Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 21

कालमान-निर्णयः

Determination of the Measures of Time

Devanagari script

सवनानां सहस्रं च त्रिगुणं त्रिवृतं तथा । कल्प्यते सकलः कालो ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः

Transliteration

savanānāṃ sahasraṃ ca triguṇaṃ trivṛtaṃ tathā | kalpyate sakalaḥ kālo brahmaṇaḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ

Translation

A thousand savanas—multiplied threefold and likewise divided into three—are reckoned as the complete measure of time belonging to Brahmā, Parameṣṭhin, the Supreme Ordainer.

Word by Word

• सवनानाम्: of savanas
• सवनानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• सहस्रम्: a thousand
• सहस्रम्: Pramana (प्रमाण/measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; numeral noun

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• त्रिगुणम्: threefold
• त्रिगुणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective ‘threefold’ qualifying (सहस्रम्)

• त्रिवृतम्: thrice (threefold)
• त्रिवृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + वृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective ‘threefold/three-times’ (lit. thrice-encompassed) qualifying the measure

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थे (adverb: ‘thus/likewise’)

• कल्प्यते: is calculated
• कल्प्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘is calculated/arranged’

• सकलः: entire
• सकलः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective qualifying (कालः)

• कालः: time
• कालः: Karma (कर्म/that which is calculated; passive subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परमेष्ठिनः: of the Supreme Lord (Parameṣṭhin)
• परमेष्ठिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेष्ठिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; epithet of Brahmā

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: complete reckoning of Brahmā’s time via savana multiplications/divisions

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse frames kāla (time) as a measurable cosmic principle governing Brahmā’s sphere of creation; in Shaiva Siddhanta this highlights that time is part of the created order (a binding principle), while Lord Shiva as Pati ultimately transcends and regulates time.

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

By describing Brahmā’s time as computed and conditioned, the text implicitly contrasts it with Shiva’s supremacy: Saguna Shiva is worshiped as the Lord who presides over cosmic functions (including time), while the Linga points to the Nirguna reality beyond all measures.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is disciplined time-awareness in sādhana—keeping regular worship times (sandhyā, japa) and steady Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), remembering that liberation is attained by Shiva’s grace beyond the bonds of time.