Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

नासा तु स्रवते यस्य त्रिदोषे पक्षजीवितम् । वक्त्रं कंठं च शुष्येत षण्मासांते गतायुषः

Transliteration

nāsā tu sravate yasya tridoṣe pakṣajīvitam | vaktraṃ kaṃṭhaṃ ca śuṣyeta ṣaṇmāsāṃte gatāyuṣaḥ

Translation

When a person’s nose begins to run due to a disorder of the three doṣas, his remaining life is said to be only a fortnight. And if the mouth and throat become dried up, he is understood to have reached the end of his lifespan within six months.

Word by Word

• नासा: nose
• नासा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नासा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

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

• स्रवते: flows/runs (discharges)
• स्रवते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्रु (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; Present indicative 3rd sg

• यस्य: whose/of whom
• यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; Relative pronoun, Genitive singular

• त्रि-दोषे: in the three doṣas (humors)
• त्रि-दोषे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular (in the three doṣas / when three humors are involved)

• पक्ष-जीवितम्: a fortnight of life (lifespan of a half-month)
• पक्ष-जीवितम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष + जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Nom./Acc. singular (lifespan measure)

• वक्त्रम्: mouth/face
• वक्त्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Nom./Acc. singular

• कण्ठम्: throat
• कण्ठम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Nom./Acc. singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• शुष्येत: would dry up
• शुष्येत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; Optative 3rd sg (would/should dry up)

• षण्-मास-अन्ते: at the end of six months
• षण्-मास-अन्ते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षण् + मास + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular (at the end of six months)

• गत-आयुषः: of one whose lifespan has departed
• गत-आयुषः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular; adjective qualifying an implied person (whose life has gone)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana teaching tradition to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It uses bodily signs to awaken vairāgya (dispassion) and urgency for sādhana—turning from transient life to refuge in Pati (Lord Shiva), the liberator of the bound soul (paśu) from bondage (pāśa).

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

By reminding the devotee of life’s fragility, it directs attention to steady Saguna worship—Linga-pūjā, remembrance, and surrender—so that the mind rests in Shiva at life’s end rather than in fear or attachment.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), simple Linga-abhiṣeka when possible, and inner contemplation on impermanence to keep the awareness anchored in Shiva.