Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

रविसोमाग्निसंयोगाद्यदोद्योतं न पश्यति । कृष्णं सर्वं समस्तं च षण्मासं जीवितं तथा

Transliteration

ravisomāgnisaṃyogādyadodyotaṃ na paśyati | kṛṣṇaṃ sarvaṃ samastaṃ ca ṣaṇmāsaṃ jīvitaṃ tathā

Translation

If, due to an ominous conjunction of the Sun, Moon, and Fire, one does not behold the expected radiance, then everything appears wholly dark; and in such a condition, life too is said to remain only for six months.

Word by Word

• रवि-सोम-अग्नि-संयोगात्: from the conjunction of the sun, moon, and fire
• रवि-सोम-अग्नि-संयोगात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक) + सोम (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + संयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन; समास: (रवि-सोम-अग्नि)-संयोग (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• उद्योतम्: illumination, radiance
• उद्योतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्योत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘brightness/illumination’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha/Modifier (विशेषण-भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• पश्यति: sees
• पश्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कृष्णम्: black, dark
• कृष्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (अत्र ‘सर्वम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• समस्तम्: entire, all together
• समस्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्त (प्रातिपदिक; √सम्+√स्था/√अस् कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘entire/complete’ (सर्वम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

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

• षण्मासम्: six months (duration)
• षण्मासम्: Karma/Avadhi (अवधि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षण्मास (प्रातिपदिक; षट्+मास, द्विगु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; कालपरिमाण (duration)

• जीवितम्: life, living
• जीवितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित (प्रातिपदिक; √जीव् धातु + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कृदन्त-क्त (past participle used as noun)

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus/so’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahākāla

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Oṃkāreśvara

Sthala Purana: Oṃkāra as the liṅga-form of Śiva associated with cosmic principles; the verse’s ‘ravi-soma-agni’ triad evokes cosmic order whose disruption signals kāla’s pressure on embodied life.

Significance: Pilgrims seek steadiness of prāṇa and clarity of inner ‘light’; remembrance of Oṃkāra/Śiva is held to restore orientation when outer signs darken.

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Ominous conjunction of Sun–Moon–Fire; darkness/absence of expected radiance (omen-like, eclipse-adjacent imagery)

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Chandra
• Agni

FAQs

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

The verse uses cosmic “light” and “darkness” as a sign-language of auspiciousness and decline, pointing to how embodied life (pashu) is vulnerable to conditions; Shaiva Siddhanta ultimately teaches that refuge in Pati (Shiva) transcends such fear and restores inner illumination.

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

When outer signs appear dark or inauspicious, Shiva’s Linga is approached as the steady axis of light (jyoti) and grace; Saguna worship stabilizes the mind and redirects attention from changing omens to the unchanging Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to intensify Shiva-upasana: japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), wearing/holding rudraksha for japa, and applying Tripundra (bhasma) as a reminder to abide in Shiva’s protecting awareness rather than fear of signs.