Shloka 10

Kālajñāna (Knowledge of Time) and Mṛtyu-cihna (Signs of Death): Śiva’s Instruction to Umā

Devanagari script

मुखं कर्णौ तथा चक्षुर्जिह्वास्तम्भो यदा भवेत् । तदा मृत्युं विजानीयात्षण्मासाभ्यन्तरे प्रिये

Transliteration

mukhaṃ karṇau tathā cakṣurjihvāstambho yadā bhavet | tadā mṛtyuṃ vijānīyātṣaṇmāsābhyantare priye

Translation

Beloved, when rigidity or loss of function arises in the face, the ears, the eyes, and the tongue, one should know that death is near—within six months.

Word by Word

• mukham: mouth/face
• mukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (मुख-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1/2), Singular

• karṇau: (two) ears
• karṇau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karṇa (कर्ण-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• tathā: and likewise
• tathā: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (तथा अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/particle (समुच्चय/उपमानबोधक अव्यय)

• cakṣuḥ: eye
• cakṣuḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakṣus (चक्षुस्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1/2), Singular

• jihvā-stambhaḥ: stiffness of the tongue
• jihvā-stambhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jihvā (जिह्वा-प्रातिपदिक) + stambha (स्तम्भ-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी): jihvāyāḥ stambhaḥ (stiffness of the tongue)

• yadā: when
• yadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (यदा अव्यय)
• Form: Temporal conjunction (कालबोधक अव्यय)

• bhavet: should occur/become
• bhavet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (तदा अव्यय)
• Form: Temporal adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• mṛtyum: death
• mṛtyum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛtyu (मृत्यु-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• vijānīyāt: one should know/recognize
• vijānīyāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + √jñā (ज्ञा धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ṣaṇmāsa-abhyantare: within six months
• ṣaṇmāsa-abhyantare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṭ (षट्-प्रातिपदिक) + māsa (मास-प्रातिपदिक) + abhyantara (अभ्यन्तर-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular; within six months

• priye: O beloved
• priye: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priyā/priya (प्रिय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative (8th), Singular

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahākāla

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara

Sthala Purana: Mahākāla presides over kāla and mṛtyu; contemplation of bodily decay is used to turn the paśu toward Śiva-śaraṇāgati.

Significance: Invokes awareness of mortality; encourages japa/vrata and detachment, seeking Śiva’s anugraha beyond kāla.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: ॐ नमः शिवाय

Type: panchakshara

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It underscores impermanence of the embodied state (pashu) and urges timely turning to Shiva (Pati) through devotion and inner discipline, so awareness of death becomes a catalyst for sadhana rather than fear.

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

By highlighting life’s uncertainty, it directs the devotee to take refuge in Saguna Shiva—especially Linga worship—as a steady support for purification (pasha-kshaya) and remembrance of Shiva leading toward liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Increase daily Shiva upasana: Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Linga abhisheka with prayerful detachment, and steady meditation on Shiva as the inner witness to loosen attachment to the body.