Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

तथा कथय मे नाथ यद्यहं तव वल्लभा । इति पृष्टस्तया देव्या प्रत्युवाच महेश्वरः

Transliteration

tathā kathaya me nātha yadyahaṃ tava vallabhā | iti pṛṣṭastayā devyā pratyuvāca maheśvaraḥ

Translation

“Then tell me, O Lord—if indeed I am dear to you.” Thus questioned by the Goddess, Maheshvara replied.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, accordingly
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus/in that way’)

• कथय: tell (me)
• कथय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; एन्क्लिटिक रूप

• नाथ: O Lord
• नाथ: Sambodhana (संबोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तवाचक-अव्यय (conditional conjunction: ‘if’)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• वल्लभा: beloved (wife)
• वल्लभा: Vidheyapada (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वल्लभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता/विधेय), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Discourse marker (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• पृष्टः: having been asked
• पृष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √प्रच्छ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृदन्त-क्त (past passive participle) ‘asked’

• तया: by her
• तया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• देव्या: by the goddess
• देव्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• प्रति-उवाच: replied
• प्रति-उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्ष), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: प्रति-

• महेश्वरः: Maheshvara (Shiva)
• महेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Maheshvara)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights the interpersonal mode of anugraha: the Lord responds when approached with devotion and intimacy (vallabhā-bhāva), mirroring the devotee’s approach at Śiva-kṣetras.

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 highlights the intimate guru-disciple tone within the Shiva–Shakti dialogue: the Goddess asks from love and earnestness, and Shiva responds as the supreme teacher (Pati) who reveals truth through compassionate instruction.

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

The verse frames Shiva as approachable Saguna Maheshvara who answers devotion. Such dialogic revelation is a core Purana method for teaching how devotees relate to Shiva—often culminating in guidance toward Linga-worship and inner contemplation of the Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is śravaṇa (listening) and praśna (reverent inquiry) as a practice: approach Shiva with devotion and ask sincerely; this attitude supports mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and focused meditation on Shiva’s form and presence.