Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

अधुना नादजं वक्ष्ये संक्षेपात्काललक्षणम् । गमागमं विदित्वा तु कर्म कुर्याञ्छृणु प्रिये

Transliteration

adhunā nādajaṃ vakṣye saṃkṣepātkālalakṣaṇam | gamāgamaṃ viditvā tu karma kuryāñchṛṇu priye

Translation

Now I shall explain, in brief, the marks of time that arise from nāda, the inner sound. Having understood its coming and going—its movements and cycles—one should then perform one’s rites and duties; listen, O beloved.

Word by Word

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधुना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• नादजम्: born of sound / sound-produced
• नादजम्: Karma (कर्म) — (काललक्षणम्)-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाद + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (adjective)

• वक्ष्ये: I shall explain
• वक्ष्ये: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/भविष्यत्), आत्मनेपदम्, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (singular)

• संक्षेपात्: briefly/in summary
• संक्षेपात्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: संक्षेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; हेतौ/प्रकारे अव्ययीभाव (as an adverbial ablative: briefly)

• काल-लक्षणम्: the definition/mark of time
• काल-लक्षणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (time’s characteristic/definition)

• गम-आगमम्: going and coming
• गम-आगमम्: Karma (कर्म) — विदित्वा-सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: गम + आगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (going and coming)

• विदित्वा: having known
• विदित्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having known)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Contrast (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), निपात (contrast/emphasis)

• कर्म: action/rite
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• कुर्यात्: should do/perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विध्यर्थ), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (singular)

• प्रिये: O dear one
• प्रिये: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

Shiva links outer religious life (karma) with inner yogic discernment: by understanding kāla through nāda (subtle inner resonance), one acts with clarity and discipline, reducing bondage and moving toward grace (anugraha).

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

It implies that Linga-worship and other Shaiva rites should be performed with right timing and inner attentiveness; nāda-oriented awareness steadies the mind so Saguna Shiva worship becomes a means to realize Shiva’s deeper, transcendent reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A combined approach is suggested: listen inwardly to nāda (meditative absorption) and then perform prescribed Shaiva karma—such as japa of the Panchakshara and orderly puja—according to proper cycles and discipline.