Shloka 49

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

Devanagari script

एतत्प्रमाणं विज्ञेयं वामवायुप्रमाणतः । सव्येतरे दिनान्येव चत्वारश्चानुपूर्वशः

Transliteration

etatpramāṇaṃ vijñeyaṃ vāmavāyupramāṇataḥ | savyetare dinānyeva catvāraścānupūrvaśaḥ

Translation

This measure should be understood according to the standard of the leftward-moving breath (vāma-vāyu). The days on the right and the other (left) are four, in due sequence.

Word by Word

• एतत्-प्रमाणम्: this measure/standard
• एतत्-प्रमाणम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—एतत् प्रमाणम् (कर्मधारयवत्/तत्पुरुष-प्रयोगः)

• विज्ञेयम्: should be known
• विज्ञेयम्: विधेय (Predicate; obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्/अनीयर्-अर्थे यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधिलिङ्गार्थः—‘ज्ञातव्यम्’

• वाम-वायु-प्रमाणतः: according to the measure of the left vital air
• वाम-वायु-प्रमाणतः: हेतु/प्रमाण (Source/standard)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक) + वायु (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक) + तः (तसिल्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तसिलन्त-अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘-तः’ = ‘from/according to’; पूर्वपद-समासः—वामवायोः प्रमाणम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + तः

• सव्य-इतरे: the right and the other (left)
• सव्य-इतरे: विशेषण (Adjectival; qualifies implied ‘(गोचरे/वायू)’ )
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + इतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; समासः—सव्यश्च इतरश्च (द्वन्द्व)

• दिनानि: days
• दिनानि: कर्म (Karma/Object; implied count)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• चत्वारः: four
• चत्वारः: कर्ता/विधेय (Predicate numeral; implied)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

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

• अनुपूर्वशः: successively/in order
• अनुपूर्वशः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनुपूर्वशः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (in due order/ क्रमशः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching of the Umāsaṃhitā to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames spiritual discipline in measurable, ordered practice: regulating life-force (vāyu/prāṇa) in a sequence, so the bound soul (paśu) can be steadied and oriented toward Pati (Śiva) for liberation.

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

Breath-regulation supports one-pointedness (ekāgratā) needed for Linga-worship and mantra-japa; by stabilizing prāṇa, devotion becomes steady and the mind rests in Śiva’s presence in saguna upāsanā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A yogic method of observing/standardizing practice by the left-channel breath (iḍā/vāma-vāyu) and following a fixed sequence of days or cycles—useful as a framework for regular japa, dhyāna, and vrata observances.