Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

अंबुतैलघृतस्थं तु दर्पणे वरवर्णिनि । न पश्यति यदात्मानं विकृतं पलमेव च

Transliteration

aṃbutailaghṛtasthaṃ tu darpaṇe varavarṇini | na paśyati yadātmānaṃ vikṛtaṃ palameva ca

Translation

O fair-complexioned one, when water, oil, or ghee (ghṛta) lies upon a mirror, a person does not behold one’s own reflection clearly—only a distorted, fleeting appearance is perceived.

Word by Word

• अम्बु-तैल-घृत-स्थम्: placed in water/oil/ghee
• अम्बु-तैल-घृत-स्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक) + तैल (प्रातिपदिक) + घृत (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण (adjective)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• दर्पणे: in a mirror
• दर्पणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Loc. 7), एकवचन (sg.)

• वर-वर्णिनि: O fair-complexioned one
• वर-वर्णिनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्णिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Voc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• पश्यति: sees
• पश्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद

• यदा: when
• यदा: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध-अव्यय (temporal adverb/conjunction)

• आत्मानम्: oneself
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• विकृतम्: distorted / deformed
• विकृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-कृत (कृ धातु; क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण

• पलम्: a moment
• पलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• एव: only/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphatic particle)

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

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakshinamurti

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Parvati

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that when the inner instrument (mind/intellect) is coated by impurities, the true Self is not recognized; only a distorted, fleeting sense of identity appears. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, pāśa (bondage) veils the paśu (individual), and clarity arises only through purification and Shiva’s grace (Pati).

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

Linga-worship trains the devotee to cleanse perception through disciplined pūjā, mantra, and devotion, so consciousness becomes a clear ‘mirror’ for Shiva. Saguna Shiva (as the worshipped Lord) guides the aspirant beyond distorted self-notions toward the recognition of the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular purification-oriented sādhana—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), dhyāna to steady the mind, and Shaiva observances (such as Mahāśivarātri vrata) to reduce mental ‘coatings’—is implied, so the Self is seen without distortion.