Shloka 8

Adhyaya 4: अहोरात्र-युग-मन्वन्तर-कल्पमान तथा प्रलयान्ते सृष्ट्युपक्रमः

Devanagari script

त्रेताद्वापरतिष्याणां कृतस्य कथयामि वः निमेषपञ्चदशका काष्ठा स्वस्थस्य सुव्रताः

Transliteration

tretādvāparatiṣyāṇāṃ kṛtasya kathayāmi vaḥ nimeṣapañcadaśakā kāṣṭhā svasthasya suvratāḥ

Translation

I shall explain to you the time-measures of the Tretā, Dvāpara, and Kali ages, and also of the Kṛta age. O you of good vows, for one in a normal, steady state, a kāṣṭhā consists of fifteen nimeṣas.

Word by Word

• त्रेता: Tretā-yuga

• द्वापर: Dvāpara-yuga

• तिष्याणाम्: of Kali (Tiṣya) age / pertaining to Kali

• कृतस्य: of Kṛta (Satya) yuga

• कथयामि: I explain / I declare

• वः: to you

• निमेष: a blink (unit of time)

• पञ्चदशकाः: fifteen

• काष्ठा: kāṣṭhā (a larger unit of time)

• स्वस्थस्य: of one who is steady/normal in condition

• सुव्रताः: O well-vowed ones (address to disciplined sages)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It establishes the Purāṇic framework of kāla (time) within which all rites—such as linga-pūjā, vrata, and dīkṣā—are performed; Shiva as Pati is understood as the Lord who transcends these time-measures while regulating them for the pashu’s disciplined practice.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By defining measurable time for embodied beings, it indirectly points to Shiva-tattva as Kāla-niyantā (the regulator of time) and yet Kāla-atīta (beyond time), the Pati who governs cosmic cycles without being bound by them like the pashu under pāśa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Vrata-based discipline and measured observance (kāla-niyama) are implied—timely japa, pūjā, and yogic steadiness (svastha) that support Pāśupata-oriented regulation of body and mind.