Shloka 65

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

Devanagari script

वामचारं यदा देवि ह्यष्टादशदिनावधिः । जीवितं चाष्टमासं तु घस्रा द्वादश कीर्तिताः

Transliteration

vāmacāraṃ yadā devi hyaṣṭādaśadināvadhiḥ | jīvitaṃ cāṣṭamāsaṃ tu ghasrā dvādaśa kīrtitāḥ

Translation

O Devī, when the discipline known as Vāmācāra is undertaken, its prescribed period is said to be eighteen days. The sustaining period of life is also spoken of as eight months, and the days (ghasrāḥ) are declared to be twelve.

Word by Word

• वाम-चारम्: the left-hand practice (Vāmācāra)
• वाम-चारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक) + चार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (वामः चारः)

• यदा: when
• यदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal conjunction/adverb)

• देवि: O goddess
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle of emphasis)

• अष्टादश-दिन-अवधिः: the limit of eighteen days
• अष्टादश-दिन-अवधिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टादश (प्रातिपदिक) + दिन (प्रातिपदिक) + अवधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अष्टादशदिनानाम् अवधिः)

• 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: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• अष्ट-मासम्: eight months
• अष्ट-मासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय/द्विगु (अष्ट मासाः)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (but/indeed)

• घस्राः: days
• घस्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘दिन’ इत्यर्थे (days)

• द्वादश: twelve
• द्वादश: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (प्रातिपदिक/संख्यावाचक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक विशेषण; प्रथमा, बहुवचन (घस्राः इति पदस्य विशेषणम्)

• कीर्तिताः: are declared
• कीर्तिताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि—“are declared”

Speaker

Lord Shiva (instructing Devī/Umā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that even specialized disciplines must be governed by clear limits and order; in Shaiva thought, regulated practice supports purification and steadiness of devotion to Pati (Shiva), rather than uncontrolled indulgence.

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

By stressing prescribed observance and measured conduct, it aligns with Saguna Shiva worship where vows, purity, and disciplined devotion stabilize the mind for Linga-upasana and mantra-japa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is disciplined vrata-style practice with fixed duration—supporting regular japa (especially the Panchakshara), and consistent Shiva-puja with purity and restraint rather than improvisation.