Shloka 35

Kāla-vañcana (Overcoming/Outwitting Time) and the Pañcabhūta Basis of the Body

Devanagari script

निद्रालस्यं महा विघ्नं जित्वा शत्रुं प्रयत्नतः । सुखासने स्थितो नित्यं शब्दब्रह्माभ्यसन्निति

Transliteration

nidrālasyaṃ mahā vighnaṃ jitvā śatruṃ prayatnataḥ | sukhāsane sthito nityaṃ śabdabrahmābhyasanniti

Translation

Having overcome, through earnest effort, the enemy of sleep and lethargy—this great obstacle—one should ever remain seated in a comfortable posture and continuously practice contemplation on Śabda-Brahman, the Divine Reality realized through sacred sound.

Word by Word

• निद्रा-आलस्यम्: sleep and laziness
• निद्रा-आलस्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + आलस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• महत्: great
• महत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विघ्नम् इत्यस्य विशेषण

• विघ्नम्: obstacle
• विघ्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विघ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म

• जित्वा: having conquered
• जित्वा: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु) → जित्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (having conquered)

• शत्रुम्: the enemy
• शत्रुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म

• प्रयत्नतः: with effort / diligently
• प्रयत्नतः: Hetu (हेतु/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverbial ablative); क्रियाविशेषण

• सुख-आसने: on a comfortable seat
• सुख-आसने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locus)

• स्थितः: seated / stationed
• स्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (past participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण (being seated)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kala (काल/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे अव्यय (adverb); कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• शब्द-ब्रह्म: the sound-Brahman (sacred sound)
• शब्द-ब्रह्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक) + ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; अभ्यासस्य विषय (object of practice)

• अभ्यसन्: practising
• अभ्यसन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+अस् (धातु) → अभ्यसत्/अभ्यसन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (present participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण (practising)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-समाप्ति सूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching Uma/Parvati in the Umāsaṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that nidrā (sleep) and ālasya (lethargy) are major inner obstacles to sādhanā; by conquering them, the seeker becomes fit for steady practice of sacred sound, which purifies the bonds (pāśa) and turns the mind toward Pati (Shiva) and liberation.

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

Śabda-Brahman practice commonly takes the form of mantra-japa and reverent recitation of Shiva-nāma while seated in composure; this supports Saguna worship (such as Linga devotion) by stabilizing attention, making the offering of mind and breath to Shiva continuous.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain a steady, comfortable seated posture (sukhāsana) and perform regular mantra-abhyāsa—especially Shiva-nāma or the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—with alertness, deliberately avoiding drowsiness and inertia.