Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 20

कालमान-निर्णयः

Determination of the Measures of Time

Devanagari script

वर्षाणामष्टसाहस्रं यच्च तद्ब्रह्मणो युगम् । सवनं युगसाहस्रं ब्रह्मणः पद्मजन्मनः

Transliteration

varṣāṇāmaṣṭasāhasraṃ yacca tadbrahmaṇo yugam | savanaṃ yugasāhasraṃ brahmaṇaḥ padmajanmanaḥ

Translation

Acht tausend Jahre — so heißt es, bilden ein einziges Yuga Brahmās. Und ein „Savana“ wird als tausend solcher Yugas für Brahmā, den Lotusgeborenen, verkündet.

Word by Word

• वर्षाणाम्: of years
• वर्षाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• अष्टसाहस्रम्: eight thousand
• अष्टसाहस्रम्: Pramana (प्रमाण/measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन; numeral compound used as count

• यत्: which
• यत्: Visheshya (विशेष्य/relative referent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; relative pronoun

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshya (विशेष्य/demonstrative referent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular

• युगम्: (is) a yuga/age
• युगम्: Pratijna/Predicate-noun (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सवनम्: a savana (ritual period)
• सवनम्: Pratijna/Predicate-noun (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• युगसाहस्रम्: a thousand yugas
• युगसाहस्रम्: Pramana (प्रमाण/measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (yuga-sahasra = thousand of yugas)

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पद्मजन्मनः: of the lotus-born (Brahmā)
• पद्मजन्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/appositional genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (padma-janman = lotus-born) used as epithet of Brahmā

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: definition of Brahmā’s yuga and savana as higher time-units

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse frames cosmic time as a measurable, created order associated with Brahmā, reminding the seeker that even vast aeons are within the realm of change (pāśa). From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, liberation is attained by turning to Pati (Śiva), who transcends such temporal measures.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By contrasting immense cosmic cycles with the limited status of created beings like Brahmā, the text implicitly directs devotion toward Śiva, the supreme Lord. Linga-worship (saguṇa-upāsanā leading to realization) anchors the mind in the timeless Reality beyond the cycles enumerated here.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with contemplation on Śiva as beyond kāla (time). This transforms awe of cosmic duration into inward detachment (vairāgya) and devotion (bhakti).