Shloka 73

Manvantarāṇukīrtana

Enumeration of the Manvantaras and Manus

Devanagari script

न शक्यमन्तरं तेषां वक्तुं वर्षशतैरपि । पूर्णे शतसहस्रे तु कल्पो निःशेष उच्यते

Transliteration

na śakyamantaraṃ teṣāṃ vaktuṃ varṣaśatairapi | pūrṇe śatasahasre tu kalpo niḥśeṣa ucyate

Translation

Even over hundreds of years, one cannot fully describe the intervals between those cosmic divisions of time. But when a hundred thousand (years) are completed, that is proclaimed to be a kalpa in its entirety.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• śakyam: possible
• śakyam: Karma (कर्म/that-which-is-possible)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakya (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; शक्-धातोः कर्मणि-योग्यतावाचक कृदन्त (potential/possible)

• antaram: interval; difference
• antaram: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• vaktum: to speak
• vaktum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-रूप (infinitive); वक्तुम् = to speak

• varṣaśataiḥ: by hundreds of years
• varṣaśataiḥ: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa-śata (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शतानि वर्षाणाम्)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक अव्यय (even/also)

• pūrṇe: when completed; in the completion
• pūrṇe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• śatasahasre: in a hundred-thousand (of years)
• śatasahasre: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata-sahasra (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सहस्रं शतानाम्)

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

• kalpaḥ: a kalpa (aeon)
• kalpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन

• niḥśeṣaḥ: entire; without remainder
• niḥśeṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niḥśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• ucyate: is said; is called
• ucyate: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana’s cosmological measure of time to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes the immeasurable vastness of cosmic time, guiding the seeker toward vairagya (detachment) and toward Pati—Lord Shiva—who transcends kalpa and all temporal measures.

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

The Linga symbolizes Shiva as the timeless ground of all cycles; reflecting on kalpa supports saguna worship (devotion to Shiva’s gracious form) while pointing to his nirguna transcendence beyond time.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudraksha, using contemplation on kalpa to weaken time-bound anxieties and deepen remembrance of Shiva.