Shloka 7

Gṛhapati’s Vow: Turning Grief into Mṛtyuñjaya–Mahākāla Sādhana (गृहपतेः प्रतिज्ञा—मृत्युंजय-महाकालजपः)

Devanagari script

न मां कृतवपुस्त्राणम्भवच्चरणरेणुभिः । कालः कलयितुं शक्तो वराकीं चिञ्चलाल्पिका

Transliteration

na māṃ kṛtavapustrāṇambhavaccaraṇareṇubhiḥ | kālaḥ kalayituṃ śakto varākīṃ ciñcalālpikā

Translation

Having taken refuge in the dust of your feet, I have become protected and steadfast; therefore Time (Kāla) is not able to seize me—wretched, fickle, and insignificant as it is.

Word by Word

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

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कृत-वपुः-त्राणम्: (my) bodily protection/armor
• कृत-वपुः-त्राणम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु, क्त-कृदन्त) + वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + त्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-सम्भाव्यः: ‘कृतं वपुः यस्य’ (made-body) + त्राणम् (protection)

• भवत्-चरण-रेणुभिः: by the dust of your feet
• भवत्-चरण-रेणुभिः: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चरण (प्रातिपदिक) + रेणु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक-समासपद; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘भवतः चरणयोः रेणुभिः’

• कालः: Time
• कालः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कलयितुम्: to affect/measure
• कलयितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कल् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive); ‘to count/measure/affect’

• शक्तः: able
• शक्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √शक्-सम्बद्ध)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• वराकीम्: wretched woman (me)
• वराकीम्: Karma (कर्म/object complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वराकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• चिञ्चला-अल्पिका: restless and insignificant
• चिञ्चला-अल्पिका: Karta (कर्ता/subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिञ्चला (प्रातिपदिक) + अल्पिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: ‘restless and small/insignificant’

Speaker

A devotee addressing Lord Shiva (Bhava) within the Śatarudrasaṃhitā narration (as relayed by Sūta to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that surrender to Shiva (Bhava) grants divine protection: when the soul rests in Shiva’s grace, the terror of Kāla (death/time) loses its power over the devotee.

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

In Saguna worship, the devotee approaches Shiva through concrete signs of grace—such as the Lord’s feet, the Linga, and ritual devotion—by which fear and bondage are dissolved and the devotee becomes steadfast in Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice śaraṇāgati (refuge) through daily Shiva-pūjā—mentally bowing at Shiva’s feet, repeating the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and cultivating unwavering bhakti that neutralizes fear of death.