Shloka 53

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

एवमाज्ञापयामास कालोपि निजकिण्करान् । तथेति मत्त्वा ते सर्वे तूष्णीमासन्सुविस्मिताः

Transliteration

evamājñāpayāmāsa kālopi nijakiṇkarān | tatheti mattvā te sarve tūṣṇīmāsansuvismitāḥ

Translation

Thus did Kāla (Time/Death) command his own attendants. Taking it as “So be it,” they all remained silent, utterly astonished.

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (thus)

• ājñāpayāmāsa: commanded
• ājñāpayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā+√jñā (धातु) causative (णिच्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative): ‘commanded/ordered’

• kālaḥ: Kāla (Time/Death)
• kālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: also/even)

• nija-kiṅkarān: his own servants
• nija-kiṅkarān: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nija (प्रातिपदिक) + kiṅkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (निजाः कीङ्कराः)

• tathā: so
• tathā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (so, in that manner)

• iti: thus (saying)
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्ति-निपात (quotative particle)

• matvā: having thought
• matvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): having thought/considered

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• tūṣṇīm: silently
• tūṣṇīm: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tūṣṇīm (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: silently)

• āsan: were/remained
• āsan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• su-vismitāḥ: very astonished
• su-vismitāḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + vismita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (सुष्ठु विस्मिताः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahākāla

Characters & Entities

• Kala

FAQs

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

It highlights that even Kāla (the force of time and death) functions as an instrument within the higher divine order; astonished silence suggests the supremacy of Shiva-tattva over fear and fate.

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

In Linga/Saguna worship, the devotee approaches the Lord as the sovereign who governs all powers, including Kāla; this verse supports the Purāṇic theme that refuge in Shiva transcends death’s authority.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate fearlessness through japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and steady remembrance of Shiva as Kāla-kāla (the Lord beyond Time), especially during Mahashivratri observances.