Shloka 14

Kālajñāna (Knowledge of Time) and Mṛtyu-cihna (Signs of Death): Śiva’s Instruction to Umā

Devanagari script

उन्मीलयति गात्राणि तालुकं शुष्यते यदा । जीवितं तु तदा तस्य मासमेकं न संशयः

Transliteration

unmīlayati gātrāṇi tālukaṃ śuṣyate yadā | jīvitaṃ tu tadā tasya māsamekaṃ na saṃśayaḥ

Translation

Cuando sus miembros comienzan a abrirse (en aflicción) y el paladar se seca, entonces su vida durará sólo un mes; de ello no hay duda.

Word by Word

• उन्मीलयति: opens
• उन्मीलयति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत् + मील् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; Present indicative 3rd sg

• गात्राणि: limbs
• गात्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Accusative plural

• तालुकम्: palate
• तालुकम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तालुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• शुष्यते: dries up
• शुष्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; Present indicative 3rd sg (becomes dry)

• यदा: when
• यदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-सम्बन्धबोधक (temporal conjunction)

• जीवितम्: life/lifespan
• जीवितम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Nom./Acc. singular

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधानार्थक/विरोधार्थक (particle)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (adverb)

• तस्य: of him/of that person
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular pronoun

• मासम्: a month
• मासम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (duration)

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; agrees with मासम्

• न: not/no
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Parvati

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the body’s impermanence and the urgency of turning the mind from worldly attachment toward Pati (Lord Shiva), the liberator, before the final decline becomes inevitable.

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

By stressing the approach of death, it implicitly directs the devotee to take refuge in Saguna Shiva—through Linga-worship, remembrance, and surrender—so the bound soul (paśu) may be released from bondage (pāśa) by Shiva (Pati).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and cultivate remembrance of Shiva; if following Purāṇic practice, support it with simple Linga-pūjā and Tripuṇḍra/bhasma as daily disciplines of detachment.