Shloka 35

अध्याय ९६: शरभ-प्रादुर्भावः, नृसिंह-दर्पशमनम्, विष्णोः शिवस्तुतिः, फलश्रुति

Devanagari script

कालो ऽस्म्यहं कालविनाशहेतुर् लोकान् समाहर्तुम् अहं प्रवृत्तः मृत्योर्मृत्युं विद्धि मां वीरभद्र जीवन्त्येते मत्प्रसादेन देवाः

Transliteration

kālo 'smyahaṃ kālavināśahetur lokān samāhartum ahaṃ pravṛttaḥ mṛtyormṛtyuṃ viddhi māṃ vīrabhadra jīvantyete matprasādena devāḥ

Translation

“I am Time (Kāla)—the very cause that brings Time itself to an end. I have set forth to withdraw the worlds. Know Me, O Vīrabhadra, as the Death of death. By My grace alone do these Devas continue to live.”

Word by Word

• कालः (kālaḥ): Time

• अस्मि (asmi): I am

• अहम् (aham): I

• काल-विनाश-हेतुः (kāla-vināśa-hetuḥ): the cause of the destruction/ending of Time

• लोकान् (lokān): the worlds

• समाहर्तुम् (samāhartum): to gather up, withdraw, dissolve

• अहम् (aham): I

• प्रवृत्तः (pravṛttaḥ): have set forth/engaged

• मृत्योः (mṛtyoḥ): of death

• मृत्युम् (mṛtyum): the death/destroyer

• विद्धि (viddhi): know (imperative)

• माम् (mām): Me

• वीरभद्र (vīrabhadra): O Vīrabhadra

• जीवन्ति (jīvanti): live, continue to live

• एते (ete): these

• मत्-प्रसादेन (mat-prasādena): by My grace

• देवाः (devāḥ): the gods/Devas

Speaker

Shiva (as Kāla / Mahākāla, addressing Vīrabhadra)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Veerabhadra
• Devas
• Kala
• Mrityu

FAQs

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

It identifies Shiva as Mahākāla—beyond time and dissolution—so Linga worship is presented as refuge in the timeless Pati who alone grants protection and continuity (prasāda) to beings.

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

Shiva is portrayed as the sovereign principle over Kāla and Mṛtyu: He initiates cosmic withdrawal (saṃhāra) yet is also “death of death,” indicating transcendence of all limiting powers that bind the paśu (soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway is Mrityunjaya-bhāva in Pāśupata discipline—seeking Shiva’s prasāda through japa, dhyāna, and Linga-upāsanā to loosen pāśa (bondage) rooted in fear of death and time.