Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

कनिष्ठामादितः कृत्वा यावदंगुष्ठकं प्रिये । पर्वत्रयक्रमेणैव हस्तयोरुभयोरपि

Transliteration

kaniṣṭhāmāditaḥ kṛtvā yāvadaṃguṣṭhakaṃ priye | parvatrayakrameṇaiva hastayorubhayorapi

Translation

O beloved, beginning with the little finger and proceeding up to the thumb, one should count in the sequence of the three joints, doing so on both hands as well.

Word by Word

• कनिष्ठाम्: the little finger
• कनिष्ठाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; ‘little finger’ (as feminine)

• आदितः: from the beginning/first
• आदितः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indeclinable adverbial form (अव्ययीभाव/क्रियाविशेषणार्थ), ‘from the beginning/first’

• कृत्वा: having done/placing
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having made/done’

• यावत्: up to/as far as
• यावत्: Avadhi (अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indeclinable (परिमाण/अवधि-सूचक)

• अङ्गुष्ठकम्: the thumb
• अङ्गुष्ठकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुष्ठक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; ‘thumb’ (diminutive/variant)

• प्रिये: O dear one
• प्रिये: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; address to ‘dear one’

• पर्व-त्रय-क्रमेण: by the sequence of three joints
• पर्व-त्रय-क्रमेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular; तत्पुरुष-समासः—‘पर्वणां त्रयस्य क्रमः’ → ‘in the order of three joints’

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय)

• हस्तयोः: of/in the two hands
• हस्तयोः: Adhikarana/Sambandha (अधिकरण/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी) or Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual; here: Genitive/Locative dual ‘of/in the two hands’

• उभयोः: of both
• उभयोः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive/Locative, Dual; qualifies ‘हस्तयोः’

• अपि: also
• अपि: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (समुच्चय/अपि = also)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (instructing Parvati)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined, attentive japa—turning the body’s simple movements into a regulated sadhana so the mind becomes steady and devotion to Pati (Shiva) deepens, supporting liberation in the Shaiva Siddhanta spirit.

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

Japa is a core limb of Saguna Shiva worship (often alongside Linga puja); this verse gives a practical counting method so the devotee can sustain mantra repetition with concentration, offering the mind repeatedly to Shiva as the worshipful Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A finger-joint counting method for mantra japa: start from the little finger and proceed to the thumb, counting through the three joints, using both hands—useful for steady repetition of the Panchakshara (e.g., “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).