Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

षड्दिनानि यदा रूढं द्विवर्षं च स जीवति । मासानष्टौ विजानीयाद्दिनान्यष्ट च तानि तु

Transliteration

ṣaḍdināni yadā rūḍhaṃ dvivarṣaṃ ca sa jīvati | māsānaṣṭau vijānīyāddinānyaṣṭa ca tāni tu

Translation

Cuando (el período calculado) se eleva a seis días, él vive por dos años. Sábese que ello equivale a ocho meses, y que éstos equivalen también a ocho días.

Word by Word

• षट्-दिनानि: six days
• षट्-दिनानि: Adhikarana/Time (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् (संख्यावाचक प्रातिपदिक) + दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• यदा: when
• यदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb/conjunction)

• रूढम्: grown/risen
• रूढम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुह् (धातु) → रूढ (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'having grown/risen'

• द्वि-वर्षम्: two years (duration)
• द्वि-वर्षम्: Karma/Measure (परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्यावाचक प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (कालपरिमाण)

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

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• जीवति: lives
• जीवति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd/प्रथम), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• मासान्: months
• मासान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• अष्टौ: eight
• अष्टौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्यावाचक प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (मासान् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• विजानीयात्: one should know/understand
• विजानीयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• दिनानि: days
• दिनानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• अष्ट: eight
• अष्ट: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्यावाचक प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (दिनानि इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

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

• तानि: those
• तानि: Anuvada/Referent (अनुवाद)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Contrast (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrastive particle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse frames lifespan as governed by measurable time and karmic order, implying that embodied life is finite and should be used for Shiva-oriented sadhana leading toward liberation (moksha) under Pati (Shiva).

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

By reminding the devotee that time and life are limited, it indirectly urges steady Saguna Shiva worship—such as Linga-puja—so the pashu (bound soul) turns toward Pati through devotion and right conduct.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is disciplined daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with regular Linga worship; maintaining such continuity is emphasized when life is understood as time-bound.