Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

आंगिकानि मयोक्तानि मृत्युचिह्नानि पार्वति । बाह्यस्थानि ब्रुवे भद्रे चिह्नानि शृणु सांप्रतम्

Transliteration

āṃgikāni mayoktāni mṛtyucihnāni pārvati | bāhyasthāni bruve bhadre cihnāni śṛṇu sāṃpratam

Translation

O Pārvatī, I have already spoken of the bodily signs that foretell death. Now, O auspicious one, I shall describe the external signs—listen to these marks at present.

Word by Word

• आङ्गिकानि: bodily/physical
• आङ्गिकानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आङ्गिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); ‘चिह्नानि’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• मया: by me
• मया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम (1st person pronoun), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन (Singular)

• उक्तानि: said/spoken
• उक्तानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘आङ्गिकानि (चिह्नानि)’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• मृत्युचिह्नानि: signs of death
• मृत्युचिह्नानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु + चिह्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मृत्योः चिह्नानि)

• पार्वति: O Pārvatī
• पार्वति: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• बाह्यस्थानि: external (located outside)
• बाह्यस्थानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाह्य + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘चिह्नानि’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; कर्मधारयः (बाह्यानि स्थानानि/बाह्यस्थानि)

• ब्रुवे: I tell / I explain
• ब्रुवे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद

• भद्रे: O auspicious one
• भद्रे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• चिह्नानि: signs/marks
• चिह्नानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिह्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन (Plural)

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• साम्प्रतम्: now / at this time
• साम्प्रतम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साम्प्रतम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: at present/now)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: transition from internal (āṃgika) to external (bāhya) mṛtyu-portents

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It frames mortality as a teaching tool: by noticing bodily and external signs of death, the seeker turns from worldly attachment (pāśa) toward refuge in Pati—Lord Shiva—and steadiness in liberation-oriented practice.

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

By emphasizing the certainty of death, the verse encourages taking shelter in Saguna Shiva—worship of the Linga, devotion, and disciplined living—so the mind becomes anchored in Shiva rather than in transient external conditions.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The immediate takeaway is mindful vigilance (smṛti) of impermanence, which supports daily Shiva-upāsanā—steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and meditation on Shiva as the liberating Lord.