Shloka 8

कालनिर्णयः (युग-मन्वन्तर-कल्पप्रमाणम्) — Measures of Time and Cosmic Cycles

Devanagari script

काष्ठा पञ्चदशाख्याता निमेषा मुनिसत्तम काष्ठात्रिंशत् कला त्रिंशत् कला मौहूर्तिको विधिः

Transliteration

kāṣṭhā pañcadaśākhyātā nimeṣā munisattama kāṣṭhātriṃśat kalā triṃśat kalā mauhūrtiko vidhiḥ

Translation

O best of sages, fifteen (units) are known as a nimeṣa; thirty kāṣṭhās make a kalā; and thirty kalās constitute a muhūrta—such is the ordained method of reckoning time.

Word by Word

• kāṣṭhāḥ: kāṣṭhās (units of time)
• kāṣṭhāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāṣṭhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• pañcadaśa: fifteen
• pañcadaśa: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (संख्या) + daśa (संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-समास (dvigu), अव्ययवत्/विशेषणरूपेण; ‘fifteen’

• ākhyātāḥ: are called
• ākhyātāḥ: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√khyā (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग? (पाठानुसार काष्ठाः इति बहुवचन-पुं/स्त्री; रूपं बहुवचन-प्रथमा), ‘are called’

• nimeṣāḥ: nimeṣas (blinks)
• nimeṣāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nimeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• muni-sattama: O best of sages
• muni-sattama: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (munīnām sattamaḥ)

• kāṣṭhā-triṃśat: thirty kāṣṭhās
• kāṣṭhā-triṃśat: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāṣṭhā (प्रातिपदिक) + triṃśat (संख्या)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (kāṣṭhānāṃ triṃśat) = ‘thirty kāṣṭhās’ (समूह)

• kalā: a kalā
• kalā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• triṃśat: thirty
• triṃśat: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: triṃśat (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, अव्ययवत्/विशेषण; ‘thirty’

• kalāḥ: kalās
• kalāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• mauhūrtikaḥ: muhūrta-based
• mauhūrtikaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mauhūrtika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (pertaining to a muhūrta)

• vidhiḥ: rule/measure
• vidhiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Definitions of time-units: nimeṣa, kāṣṭhā, kalā, muhūrta

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Time is reckoned through nested, standardized units, establishing an intelligible structure for ritual and cosmic narration.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Use traditional time awareness (muhūrta, daily rhythm) to stabilize sādhana—regular japa, pūjā, study—anchored in measured routine.

Vishishtadvaita: Cosmic order is not illusory but a real, divinely governed structure that supports dharma and devotion.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya

FAQs

What is the significance of time-measurement (kāla-māna) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse establishes the precise ladder of smaller time units, forming the basis for Purāṇic chronology that later expands into muhūrtas, days, yugas, manvantaras, and kalpas—expressing cosmic order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the structure of time to Maitreya here?

Parāśara teaches by definition and proportion: he lists units and gives their conversion (nimeṣa → kāṣṭhā → kalā → muhūrta), presenting time as an orderly, rule-governed framework.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named, the Purāṇic doctrine treats cosmic order and time as sustained by the Supreme Reality; the orderly measure of time reflects a universe governed and upheld by Vishnu’s sovereignty.