Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

वामहस्तो यदा देवि सप्ताहं स्पंदते प्रिये । जीवितं तु तदा तस्य मासमेकं न संशयः

Transliteration

vāmahasto yadā devi saptāhaṃ spaṃdate priye | jīvitaṃ tu tadā tasya māsamekaṃ na saṃśayaḥ

Translation

Beloved Goddess, when a person’s left hand trembles continuously for a week, then—dear one—his life will last only one more month; of this there is no doubt.

Word by Word

• वाम-हस्तः: the left hand
• वाम-हस्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• यदा: when
• यदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-सम्बन्धबोधक (temporal conjunction)

• देवि: O Goddess
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular

• सप्ताहम्: for a week
• सप्ताहम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्ताह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (duration)

• स्पन्दते: throbs/pulsates
• स्पन्दते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पन्द् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; Present indicative 3rd sg

• प्रिये: O beloved
• प्रिये: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular (address)

• जीवितम्: life/lifespan
• जीवितम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Nom./Acc. singular (subject/predicate)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधानार्थक/विरोधार्थक (particle: 'but/indeed')

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (adverb of time)

• तस्य: of him/of that person
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; Pronoun, Genitive singular

• मासम्: a month
• मासम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (measure of duration)

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; agrees with मासम् (measure)

• न: not/no
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (predicate: 'no doubt')

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Parvati

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse uses an omen to highlight impermanence and the urgency of turning the mind to Shiva; in a Shaiva Siddhanta sense, such signs remind the bound soul (paśu) to loosen bondage (pāśa) through devotion, right conduct, and remembrance of Pati (Shiva).

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

By stressing life’s uncertainty, it implicitly directs the devotee toward steady Saguna Shiva worship—Linga-pūjā, mantra-japa, and surrender—so that the limited body is not mistaken for the Self and time is used for Shiva-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to intensify daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), maintain Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of vairāgya, and perform simple Linga worship with repentance and resolve (saṅkalpa) when such fear-inducing signs arise.