Shloka 25

Śiva–Hari–Rudra–Vidhīnāṃ Tattva-nirṇayaḥ

Identity of Śiva, Viṣṇu, Rudra, and Brahmā; Nirguṇa–Saguṇa Reconciliation

Devanagari script

अन्येषां कालमानं च कालस्य कलना न हि । महाकालस्स्वयं साक्षान्महाकालीसमाश्रितः

Transliteration

anyeṣāṃ kālamānaṃ ca kālasya kalanā na hi | mahākālassvayaṃ sākṣānmahākālīsamāśritaḥ

Translation

For others there may be a measured span of time, but Time itself cannot be measured. Mahākāla is the directly self-manifest Lord, abiding with Mahākālī and supported by Her.

Word by Word

• अन्येषाम्: of others
• अन्येषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) (सामान्यतः), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कालमानम्: measure of time
• कालमानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: कालस्य मानम् (measure of time)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• कालस्य: of time
• कालस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• कलना: calculation/measurement
• कलना: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; निश्चयार्थ (indeed)

• महाकालः: Mahākāla
• महाकालः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाकाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: महान् कालः (the great Time)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मनः (by oneself)

• साक्षात्: directly/in person
• साक्षात्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रत्यक्ष/स्वयमेव (directly, in person)

• महाकाली-समाश्रितः: having taken refuge in Mahākālī
• महाकाली-समाश्रितः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाकाली + सम्-आ-श्रि (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: महाकालीं समाश्रितः (having taken refuge in Mahākālī)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahākāla

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara

Sthala Purana: Mahākāla is praised as Time beyond measurement; in Ujjayinī the Lord is revered as Mahākāleśvara, the timeless ruler who grants liberation from fear of death and time.

Significance: Darśana/abhisheka is held to cut fear of death, loosen karmic bondage, and bestow anugraha through the Lord who transcends kāla.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: liberating

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kāla-tattva (Time) declared immeasurable; Mahākāla as transcendent Time

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that all beings are bound by measurable time, while Shiva as Mahākāla is Time’s very source and thus transcends measurement—pointing to liberation through realizing the Lord beyond change.

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

Mahākāla is Saguna Shiva revered through forms such as the Jyotirlinga; worship of the Linga anchors the mind in the timeless Pati, who stands beyond the cycles that bind the soul.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva as Mahākāla while japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), offering bilva leaves and applying tripuṇḍra bhasma—practices that steady awareness beyond fear of time and death.