Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

द्वादशेन प्रवाहेण वर्षमेकं स जीवति । मासान् सप्त विजानीयात्षड्घस्रांश्चाप्युदाहरेत्

Transliteration

dvādaśena pravāheṇa varṣamekaṃ sa jīvati | māsān sapta vijānīyātṣaḍghasrāṃścāpyudāharet

Translation

Por el flujo duodécuple de la corriente vital (prāṇa), un ser vive un año. Sábese además que se cuenta como siete meses, y también se enuncia como seis mil unidades en el cómputo.

Word by Word

• द्वादशेन: by twelve (units)
• द्वादशेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (प्रयोगानुसार), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण

• प्रवाहेण: by the flow/sequence
• प्रवाहेण: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• वर्षम्: a year
• वर्षम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण (वर्षम्)

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

• जीवति: lives
• जीवति: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जीव् (धातु, जीवने)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (अव्यय/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (indeclinable numeral)

• विजानीयात्: should know/should ascertain
• विजानीयात्: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√ज्ञा (धातु, ज्ञाने)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: वि

• षट्: six
• षट्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (अव्यय/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (indeclinable numeral)

• घस्रान्: (units called) ghasras/days
• घस्रान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• उदाहरेत्: should state/mention
• उदाहरेत्: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-आ-√हृ (धातु, उच्चारणे/कथने)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: उद्, आ

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching Umā/Parvatī in the Umāsaṃhitā’s philosophical discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It frames embodied life as governed by measurable prāṇic flow and time, pointing the seeker toward mastery of prāṇa and detachment from mere lifespan-counting—turning attention to Pati (Shiva) as the liberator beyond time.

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

By revealing life’s dependence on inner currents, the text directs devotion inward: Linga-worship is not only external ritual but also steadying prāṇa and mind, offering the life-force itself to Saguna Shiva and realizing His presence as the inner Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prāṇāyāma and japa—especially Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—are implied as disciplines to regulate the vital flow; practiced with purity (bhasma/tripuṇḍra and Rudrākṣa where prescribed), they support concentration and Shaiva contemplation.