Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

एकादश प्रवाहेण वर्षमेकं स जीवति । मासा नव तथा प्रोक्ता दिनान्यष्टमितान्यपि

Transliteration

ekādaśa pravāheṇa varṣamekaṃ sa jīvati | māsā nava tathā proktā dinānyaṣṭamitānyapi

Translation

By the course of eleven (units), he lives for one year; it is also said that this measure is nine months and likewise eight days as well.

Word by Word

• ekādaśa: eleven
• ekādaśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ekādaśa (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत् संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), अव्ययवत्; pravāheṇa इति विशेषणम् (numeral modifying 'flow')

• pravāheṇa: by (the) flow / course
• pravāheṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pravāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (Masculine, Instrumental singular)

• varṣam: a year
• varṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• ekam: one
• ekam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative singular; agreeing with varṣam)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative singular)

• jīvati: lives
• jīvati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jīv (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (Present indicative, 3rd singular)

• māsāḥ: months
• māsāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative plural)

• nava: nine
• nava: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nava (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत् संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), अव्ययवत्; māsāḥ इति विशेषणम्

• tathā: thus / likewise
• tathā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'thus/likewise')

• proktāḥ: are stated
• proktāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु) + pra + ta (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle of pra-√vac), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन (Masculine, Nom. plural)

• dināni: days
• dināni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन (Neuter, Nominative plural)

• aṣṭamitāni: amounting to eight / eightfold
• aṣṭamitāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭamita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन (Neuter, Nominative plural; agreeing with dināni)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-अव्यय (particle: 'also/even')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that embodied life is governed by measured flows of time and prāṇa; recognizing this impermanence turns the seeker toward Pati (Shiva) as the stable refuge beyond changing measures.

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

By stressing the limited span of embodied existence, it implicitly directs devotion toward Saguna Shiva (Linga-worship) as a concrete support for steady practice, leading the mind from transient time to the timeless Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is disciplined japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with breath-awareness, supported by Shaiva observances like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa to stabilize attention and purify karma.