Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

नीलाभिर्मक्षिकाभिश्च ह्यकस्माद्वेष्ट्यते पुमान् । मासमेकं हि तस्यायुर्ज्ञातव्यं परमार्थतः

Transliteration

nīlābhirmakṣikābhiśca hyakasmādveṣṭyate pumān | māsamekaṃ hi tasyāyurjñātavyaṃ paramārthataḥ

Translation

If a man is suddenly encircled by blue flies, then know in truth that his remaining lifespan is only one month.

Word by Word

• नीलाभिः: blue (ones)
• नीलाभिः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण (Adjective), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); मक्षिकाभिः इति विशेष्येण सह

• मक्षिकाभिः: by flies
• मक्षिकाभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मक्षिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (Conjunction)

• हि: indeed
• हि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (Particle; emphasis/indeed)

• अकस्मात्: suddenly
• अकस्मात्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अकस्मात् (अव्यय)
• Form: आकस्मिकता-वाचक-अव्यय (Adverb: suddenly)

• वेष्ट्यते: is surrounded/covered
• वेष्ट्यते: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वेष्ट् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), आत्मनेपद-रूप (Ātmanepada form), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुमान्: a man
• पुमान्: कर्म (Karman/Object in passive; logical patient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुमांस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• मासम्: month
• मासम्: कर्म (Karman/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण (Adjective), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); मासम् इति विशेष्येण सह

• हि: indeed
• हि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (Particle; emphasis)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• आयुः: lifespan
• आयुः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• ज्ञातव्यम्: to be known
• ज्ञातव्यम्: विधेय (Predicative obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (Gerundive/Obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); विधेय-विशेषण (predicative: 'is to be known')

• परमार्थतः: in reality
• परमार्थतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परमार्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित; अव्ययीभावार्थ)
• Form: तद्धितान्त-अव्यय (Adverbial in -tas: 'in truth/ultimately')

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse uses an omen to teach impermanence: when death is near, the wise turn from worldly attachment and take refuge in Shiva (Pati), seeking liberation through remembrance, devotion, and inner detachment.

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

As death’s proximity is indicated, the teaching implicitly urges immediate turning to Saguna Shiva—worship of the Linga with steady mind—so the bound soul (paśu) may loosen the noose (pāśa) through Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Take up constant japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with simple Shiva-upasana such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and mental Linga-dhyana, focusing on surrender and readiness for liberation.