Shloka 12

Devanagari script

तस्य काष्ठाः स्मृता घोणाश्चाक्षदंडाः क्षणाश्च वै । निमेषाश्चानुकर्षश्च ईषाश्चानुलवाः स्मृताः

Transliteration

tasya kāṣṭhāḥ smṛtā ghoṇāścākṣadaṃḍāḥ kṣaṇāśca vai | nimeṣāścānukarṣaśca īṣāścānulavāḥ smṛtāḥ

Translation

For him, the measures of time are said to be: kāṣṭhās, ghoṇās, akṣa-daṇḍas, and kṣaṇas; likewise nimeṣas, anukarṣas, īṣās, and also anulavas are declared.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of it/of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• काष्ठाः: kāṣṭhās (time-units)
• काष्ठाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स्मृताः: are said/are remembered as
• स्मृताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + स्मृत (कृदन्त प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘(इति) स्मृताः’ = are called/considered

• घोणाः: ghoṇās (time-units)
• घोणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घोणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• अक्ष-दण्डाः: akṣa-daṇḍas (time-units)
• अक्ष-दण्डाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अक्षस्य दण्डः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• क्षणाः: moments
• क्षणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

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

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/पादपूरण अव्यय (indeed)

• निमेषाः: blinks (time-units)
• निमेषाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निमेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

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

• अनुकर्षः: anukarṣa (time-unit)
• अनुकर्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुकर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• ईषाः: īṣās (time-units)
• ईषाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

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

• अनुलवाः: anulavas (time-units)
• अनुलवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुलव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स्मृताः: are said/are remembered as
• स्मृताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + स्मृत (कृदन्त प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kalpa-scale time and micro-time units (kāṣṭhā→anulava) framing cosmic order

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

By listing subtle units of time, the Purana highlights kāla as a measurable power within creation, while Shaiva Siddhanta affirms that Lord Shiva (Pati) is the ruler of time yet remains beyond it—inviting the seeker to turn from fleeting moments toward the Timeless Lord.

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

The Linga signifies Shiva’s presence that pervades all levels of reality, including time. Remembering that even the smallest instants are under Shiva’s governance supports Saguna worship—seeing Shiva as Kāla-niyantā (the ordainer of time)—and leads the mind toward the nirguṇa truth of Shiva’s transcendence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is nimeṣa-japa: using the blink or breath as a gentle count while repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating awareness that each moment is offered to Shiva and not wasted in forgetfulness.