Shloka 63

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

Devanagari script

षोडशाहप्रवाहेण दशमासान्स जीवति । चतुर्विशद्दिनाधिक्यं कथितं कालवेदिभिः

Transliteration

ṣoḍaśāhapravāheṇa daśamāsānsa jīvati | caturviśaddinādhikyaṃ kathitaṃ kālavedibhiḥ

Translation

By the continuous flow of sixteen-day cycles, he lives for ten months; and those who know the measures of time declare an additional twenty-four days.

Word by Word

• षोडशाहप्रवाहेण: by/through the flow of sixteen days
• षोडशाहप्रवाहेण: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षोडश + अह + प्रवाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षोडशानाम् अह्नाम् प्रवाहः)

• दशमासान्: ten months
• दशमासान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश + मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (दश मासाः)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• जीवति: lives
• जीवति: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• चतुर्विंशद्दिनाधिक्यम्: an excess of twenty-four days
• चतुर्विंशद्दिनाधिक्यम्: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/topic/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्विंशत् + दिन + अधिक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (चतुर्विंशत्-दिनानाम् अधिक्यम्)

• कथितम्: is said/has been stated
• कथितम्: क्रिया-विशेषण/विधेय (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (stative/passive sense)

• कालवेदिभिः: by the knowers of time
• कालवेदिभिः: कर्ता (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल + वेदिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कालं वेदन्ति इति)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights kāla (time) as a governing principle within Shiva’s cosmic order—life unfolds according to precise measures, reminding the seeker to turn from mere duration to right living and devotion to Pati (Shiva).

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

By stressing the certainty of time’s flow, it implicitly directs the mind toward steady, regular worship—daily remembrance of Saguna Shiva in the Linga—so that life’s limited span is sanctified through disciplined bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain a fixed daily sādhana aligned with time—such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), wearing Rudrākṣa, and applying Tripuṇḍra—so devotion becomes continuous like the verse’s “flow.”