Shloka 66

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

Devanagari script

चतुर्विंशद्दिनान्यत्र निश्चयेनावधारय । प्राणवाहो यदा देवि त्रयोविंशद्दिनावधिः

Transliteration

caturviṃśaddinānyatra niścayenāvadhāraya | prāṇavāho yadā devi trayoviṃśaddināvadhiḥ

Translation

Here, O Goddess, know with certainty that the cycle is of twenty-four days; and when the vital current (prāṇa-vāha) is considered, O Devī, its course extends up to twenty-three days.

Word by Word

• चतुर्विंशत्-दिनानि: twenty-four days
• चतुर्विंशत्-दिनानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्विंशत् (प्रातिपदिक) + दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय/द्विगु (चतुर्विंशत् दिनानि)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• निश्चयेन: with certainty
• निश्चयेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निश्चय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत्—“with certainty”

• अवधारय: determine/ascertain
• अवधारय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-धृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• प्राण-वाहः: the life-breath flow
• प्राण-वाहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + वाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्राणानां वाहः)

• यदा: when
• यदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक

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

• त्रयोविंशत्-दिन-अवधिः: the limit of twenty-three days
• त्रयोविंशत्-दिन-अवधिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रयोविंशत् (प्रातिपदिक) + दिन (प्रातिपदिक) + अवधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (त्रयोविंशद्दिनानाम् अवधिः)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that spiritual discipline includes precise understanding of time and the movement of prāṇa; in Shaiva Siddhanta, mastering the life-current supports purification of the paśu (bound soul) and loosening of pāśa (bondage) under the grace of Pati (Shiva).

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

By teaching Parvati about the measurable flow of prāṇa and cycles, Shiva points to embodied practice: Linga-worship is strengthened when the devotee regulates breath, senses, and routine, making devotion to Saguna Shiva steady and inwardly aligned.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is prāṇāyāma and vrata-like regularity—keeping a disciplined schedule and breath-awareness alongside Shiva upāsanā (such as japa of the Panchākṣarī, Tripuṇḍra, and respectful observances) to stabilize the prāṇa-vāha.