Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

स्मरेन्नवात्मकं मंत्रं यावदष्टोत्तरं शतम् । निरीक्षयेत्ततो हस्तौ प्रतिपर्वणि यत्नतः

Transliteration

smarennavātmakaṃ maṃtraṃ yāvadaṣṭottaraṃ śatam | nirīkṣayettato hastau pratiparvaṇi yatnataḥ

Translation

One should mentally repeat the nine-syllabled mantra up to one hundred and eight times. Thereafter, with care, one should examine both hands attentively, joint by joint.

Word by Word

• स्मरेत्: should remember/recite mentally
• स्मरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• नवात्मकम्: consisting of nine (syllables/parts)
• नवात्मकम्: Karma (कर्म) — मन्त्रम्-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (adjective)

• मन्त्रम्: mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• यावत्: up to/as far as
• यावत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययप्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), परिमाण/अवधि-बोधक (limit/extent marker)

• अष्टोत्तरम्: eight more (i.e., 108)
• अष्टोत्तरम्: Karma (कर्म) — शतम्-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); संख्याविशेषण (numeral-adjective)

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Karma (कर्म) — जपसंख्या
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); संख्याशब्द (numeral)

• निरीक्षयेत्: should observe/examine
• निरीक्षयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विध्यर्थ), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), क्रम/अनन्तर (sequence: thereafter)

• हस्तौ: (both) hands
• हस्तौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (dual)

• प्रतिपर्वणि: at each joint/segment (of the hand)
• प्रतिपर्वणि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) / Kriyāviśeṣaṇa
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति + पर्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास (adverbial compound); अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (used adverbially)

• यत्नतः: carefully/with effort
• यत्नतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb), manner adverb

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Mantra-japa (108) followed by careful inspection is a sādhanā-like instruction; no specific Jyotirliṅga is invoked.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches disciplined japa (108 repetitions) followed by mindful observation, indicating that mantra leads the mind from sound (śabda) to steadiness and inward awareness—supporting Shaiva Siddhanta’s aim of purification and devotion to Pati (Shiva).

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

Japa is a primary Saguna practice: the devotee approaches Shiva through mantra as a sacred form. The subsequent attentive inspection reflects focused concentration (ekāgratā), which complements Linga-worship by training reverence, purity, and steadiness in ritual.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform 108 mental repetitions of the nine-syllabled mantra, then practice careful awareness by observing the hands joint-by-joint—an aid to concentration often paired with Shaiva japa and puja disciplines.