Shloka 69

Svagati-varṇana

Description of the Supreme State / One’s True Attainment

Devanagari script

युगांते सर्वभूतानि संवर्तक इवानलः । कालो भूत्वा महादेवो ग्रसमानस्स तिष्ठति

Transliteration

yugāṃte sarvabhūtāni saṃvartaka ivānalaḥ | kālo bhūtvā mahādevo grasamānassa tiṣṭhati

Translation

At the end of the age, Mahādeva becomes Time itself; like the fire of cosmic dissolution, He stands there, consuming all beings.

Word by Word

• युगान्ते: at the end of the yuga
• युगान्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण) / Time
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग-अन्त (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन (masc loc sg); समयाधिकरण

• सर्वभूतानि: all beings
• सर्वभूतानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-भूत (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन (neuter acc pl)

• संवर्तकः: destroyer (at dissolution)
• संवर्तकः: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate noun
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवर्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (masc nom sg); उपमान/विशेष्य (as a destroyer)

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison: like/as)

• अनलः: fire
• अनलः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (masc nom sg); उपमान (standard of comparison)

• कालः: Time
• कालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (masc nom sg)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल) / Adverbial
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु) → भूत्वा (कृदन्त, त्वा)
• Form: त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive); 'having become'

• महादेवः: Mahādeva
• महादेवः: Karta (कर्ता) / Apposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-देव (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (masc nom sg); विशेष्य (Mahādeva)

• ग्रसमानः: devouring
• ग्रसमानः: Karta (कर्ता) / Concomitant action
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रस् (धातु) → ग्रसमान (कृदन्त, शतृ/शानच्; आत्मनेपद-प्रयोग)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; 'devouring'

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (masc nom sg pronoun)

• तिष्ठति: stands, remains
• तिष्ठति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) → तिष्ठ (वर्तमाने)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahākāla

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva as Kāla (Time), the ultimate power that dissolves all compounded existence at pralaya, teaching detachment and pointing the seeker toward the deathless Pati (Lord) who alone remains when all pashu (souls in bondage) and pasha (bonds) are withdrawn.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva’s cosmic function as dissolver, which Linga worship symbolizes: the Linga is the stable sign of the Lord who remains while names and forms are consumed by Time, leading the devotee from form-based devotion toward the transcendent reality it indicates.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as Kāla through japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa, contemplating impermanence and surrendering fear of death into Śiva’s protective lordship.