Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

रात्रौ धनुर्यदापश्येन्मध्याह्ने चोल्कपातनम् । वेष्ट्यते गृध्रकाकैश्च षण्मासायुर्न संशयः

Transliteration

rātrau dhanuryadāpaśyenmadhyāhne colkapātanam | veṣṭyate gṛdhrakākaiśca ṣaṇmāsāyurna saṃśayaḥ

Translation

If one sees a rainbow at night, or a meteor falling at midday, and if one is surrounded by vultures and crows, then one’s lifespan is reduced to six months—of this there is no doubt.

Word by Word

• रात्रौ: at night
• रात्रौ: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• धनुः: a bow (shape)
• धनुः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• यदा: when
• यदा: सम्बन्ध (time marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal conjunction)

• अपश्येत्: would/should see
• अपश्येत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मध्याह्ने: at midday
• मध्याह्ने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्याह्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

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

• उल्कपातनम्: a meteor-fall
• उल्कपातनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उल्का-पातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासः—उल्कायाः पातनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• वेष्ट्यते: is surrounded/encircled
• वेष्ट्यते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वेष्ट् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (‘is surrounded’)

• गृध्रकाकैः: by vultures and crows
• गृध्रकाकैः: करण/सहकर्ता (Instrument/Agentive means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृध्र-काक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; द्वन्द्व-समासः (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व)

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

• षण्मासायुः: (his) lifespan is six months
• षण्मासायुः: कर्ता/विषय (Karta/Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षण्-मास-आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; समासः—षण्मासम् आयुः यस्य (बहुव्रीहिरपि सम्भवः), परन्तु वाक्ये ‘(तस्य) आयुः षण्मासम्’ इत्यर्थे रूढ-तत्पुरुषवत्; ‘आयुः’ = जीवनकालः

• न: no
• न: सम्बन्ध (negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: कर्ता/विषय (Karta/Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages, as customary in the Purana frame)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: anomalous rainbow at night; meteor at midday; carrion birds encircling as ariṣṭa-nimitta

FAQs

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

The verse uses ominous signs to remind the seeker of life’s uncertainty, urging vairāgya (dispassion) and turning the mind toward Shiva as Pati—the liberator beyond fate and fear.

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

Such omens are presented as worldly indicators within pāśa (bondage). In Shaiva practice, one responds by taking refuge in Saguna Shiva—Linga worship, japa, and devotion—seeking purification and steadiness rather than panic.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to intensify Shiva-sādhana—Pañcākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Tripuṇḍra/bhasma with remembrance of Shiva, and sincere prayer—cultivating inner fearlessness and readiness for liberation.