Shloka 60

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

Devanagari script

चतुर्विशद्दिनं शेषं जीवितं च न संशयः । प्राणवाहा यदा वामे चतुर्द्दशदिनानि तु

Transliteration

caturviśaddinaṃ śeṣaṃ jīvitaṃ ca na saṃśayaḥ | prāṇavāhā yadā vāme caturddaśadināni tu

Translation

No doubt, only twenty days of life remain. And when the life-breath (prāṇa) flows in the left channel, it indicates fourteen days remaining.

Word by Word

• चतुर्विंशत्-दिनम्: twenty-four days
• चतुर्विंशत्-दिनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्विंशत् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक) + दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• शेषम्: remaining
• शेषम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• जीवितम्: life/lifespan
• जीवितम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• न: not/no
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• प्राणवाहा: the prāṇa-carrying (nāḍī)
• प्राणवाहा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + वाहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्राणानां वाहा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यदा: when
• यदा: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• वामे: in the left (side)
• वामे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक

• चतुर्दश-दिनानि: fourteen days
• चतुर्दश-दिनानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्दश (संख्याप्रातिपदिक) + दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/विरोध-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Prana

FAQs

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

It presents a yogic diagnostic teaching: prāṇa’s movement is a sign of bodily impermanence, urging the seeker to turn from fear to sādhanā—japa, meditation, and surrender to Pati (Shiva) for liberation beyond the dying body.

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

By recognizing life’s uncertainty through prāṇa-signs, the devotee is directed to steadier refuge—Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-pūjā, pañcākṣarī-japa). Such worship purifies the bonds (pāśa) and orients the soul (paśu) toward Shiva, the Lord (Pati).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mindful observation of breath-flow (nāḍī awareness) alongside Shiva-japa—especially “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and steady meditation; as death is near, intensify inner worship, detachment, and remembrance of Shiva.