Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

तत्तेहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणु तत्त्वेन सुन्दरि । लोकानामुपकारार्थं वैराग्यार्थमुमेऽधुना

Transliteration

tattehaṃ sampravakṣyāmi śṛṇu tattvena sundari | lokānāmupakārārthaṃ vairāgyārthamume'dhunā

Translation

Now I shall proclaim that truth to you—listen with lucid understanding, O beautiful one. O Umā, at this time I speak for the welfare of the worlds and for the awakening of vairāgya, holy dispassion.

Word by Word

• tat: that (teaching)
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्-सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• te: to you
• te: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (युष्मद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• sampravakṣyāmi: will explain fully
• sampravakṣyāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु) with prefix sam-pra
• Form: Future (लृट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular, Parasmaipada

• śṛṇu: listen
• śṛṇu: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• tattvena: in truth
• tattvena: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (तत्त्व-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; adverbial ‘truly’

• sundari: O beautiful one
• sundari: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sundarī (सुन्दरी-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• lokānām: of the worlds/people
• lokānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (लोक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• upakāra-artham: for the benefit (purpose)
• upakāra-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upakāra (उपकार-प्रातिपदिक) + artha (अर्थ-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; purpose-accusative; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी): upakārasya arthaḥ

• vairāgya-artham: for (producing) dispassion
• vairāgya-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vairāgya (वैराग्य-प्रातिपदिक) + artha (अर्थ-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; purpose-accusative; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी): vairāgyasya arthaḥ

• ume: O Umā
• ume: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: umā (उमा-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• adhunā: now
• adhunā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adhunā (अधुना अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

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 frames Shiva’s instruction as tattva-upadeśa (teaching of ultimate truth) given to awaken vairāgya, a key Shaiva Siddhanta prerequisite for turning from bondage (pāśa) toward liberation under the grace of Pati (Shiva).

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

By emphasizing “truth” and “benefit for the worlds,” the verse signals that Shiva’s saguna instruction (as teacher to Umā) guides devotees toward the deeper realization of Shiva’s supreme reality, which Linga-worship traditionally supports through focused devotion and inner purification.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The immediate practice implied is śravaṇa (attentive listening) and contemplation of Shiva’s teaching to cultivate vairāgya; this is commonly supported in Shaiva practice by japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined worship that fosters detachment.