Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

अरुंधती महायानमिंदुलक्षणवर्जितम् । अदृष्टतारको योऽसौ मासमेकं स जीवति

Transliteration

aruṃdhatī mahāyānamiṃdulakṣaṇavarjitam | adṛṣṭatārako yo'sau māsamekaṃ sa jīvati

Translation

He who beholds the great celestial sign called Arundhatī—devoid of the moon’s marks, and in which no stars are seen—such a person is said to live for one more month.

Word by Word

• अरुंधती: Arundhatī (star)
• अरुंधती: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरुंधती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• महायानम्: the great vehicle/constellation
• महायानम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महच्च तत् यानम्)

• इन्दु: of the moon
• इन्दु: सम्बन्ध (within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• लक्षण: mark/sign
• लक्षण: सम्बन्ध (within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• वर्जितम्: devoid of the moon’s sign
• वर्जितम्: विशेषण (of महायानम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्जित (कृदन्त; वर्ज् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), कर्मणि/भावे; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (इन्दुलक्षणेन वर्जितम्)

• अदृष्टतारकः: whose star is not seen / starless (unseen star)
• अदृष्टतारकः: विशेषण (of यः/सः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + दृष्ट + तारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुषः (दृष्टः न, तारकः)

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक-सर्वनाम

• असौ: that (one)
• असौ: कर्ता (Correlative subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; निर्देशवाचक

• मासम्: for a month
• मासम्: कालावधि (Duration as object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: विशेषण (of मासम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• जीवति: lives
• जीवति: क्रिया (Verb/आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: astral-omen observation involving Arundhatī and a ‘great path/sign’ appearing moon-markless and starless

Characters & Entities

• Arundhati

FAQs

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

It presents an omen-based teaching: worldly lifespan is uncertain and measured, urging the seeker to turn from signs and portents toward steady Shaiva sādhanā—devotion to Pati (Śiva) who alone grants liberation beyond time.

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

By highlighting the fragility of embodied life, it implicitly supports prompt engagement in Saguna Śiva-upāsanā—Linga worship, mantra-japa, and bhakti—so that the finite body becomes a means to attain Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is urgency in daily Shaiva practice: Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Linga-archanā with water/bilva, and maintaining Tripuṇḍra and Rudrākṣa as supports for remembrance of Śiva.