Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

आत्मविज्ञानं सुश्रोणि चारं ज्ञात्वा तु यत्नतः । क्षणं त्रुटिर्लवं चैव निमेषं काष्ठकालिकम्

Transliteration

ātmavijñānaṃ suśroṇi cāraṃ jñātvā tu yatnataḥ | kṣaṇaṃ truṭirlavaṃ caiva nimeṣaṃ kāṣṭhakālikam

Translation

O fair-hipped one, having diligently understood the true course of Self-knowledge (ātma-jñāna), one should also comprehend the measures of time—kṣaṇa (moment), truṭi (instant), lava (brief interval), nimeṣa (blink), and kāṣṭhā (a unit of time).

Word by Word

• आत्म-विज्ञानम्: self-knowledge
• आत्म-विज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म) — ज्ञात्वा-सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (knowledge of the self)

• सुश्रोणि: O fair-hipped one
• सुश्रोणि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुश्रोणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन (singular)

• चारम्: movement/course
• चारम्: Karma (कर्म) — ज्ञात्वा-सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: चार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

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

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

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

• क्षणम्: a moment
• क्षणम्: Karma (कर्म) — (वक्ष्ये/वक्ष्यामि implied)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (masc/neut), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); कालपरिमाण (unit of time)

• त्रुटिः: a truṭi (tiny time unit)
• त्रुटिः: Karta (कर्ता) — सूचीकरण/निर्देश
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रुटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); कालपरिमाण (unit of time)

• लवम्: a lava (time unit)
• लवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (masc/neut), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); कालपरिमाण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• निमेषम्: a blink (nimeṣa)
• निमेषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निमेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); कालपरिमाण

• काष्ठ-कालिकम्: pertaining to kāṣṭhā-time (a time measure)
• काष्ठ-कालिकम्: Karma (कर्म) — निमेषम्/कालमान-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काष्ठ + कालिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (adjective)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (instructing Goddess Umā/Parvatī)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

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?

It links ātmavijñāna (Self-knowledge) with disciplined attentiveness: by understanding the subtle flow of time, the seeker refines awareness and steadiness, supporting Shaiva Siddhanta’s aim of realizing Pati (Shiva) as the liberating Lord beyond pasha (bondage).

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

Measuring time trains one-pointedness (ekāgratā), which strengthens regular pūjā, japa, and dhyāna of Saguna Shiva—often centered on the Linga—so the mind becomes fit to receive Shiva’s grace (anugraha) that culminates in higher realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is timed japa and breath-aware meditation: chant the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with mindful counting of moments (nimeṣa, kṣaṇa), maintaining steady attention—optionally with Rudrāksha mala and Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as Shaiva supports.