Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 39

सतीकृतप्रार्थना तथा परतत्त्वजिज्ञासा — Satī’s Prayer and Inquiry into the Supreme Principle

Devanagari script

कलौ तु ज्ञानवैरागो वृद्धरूपौ निरुत्सवौ । ग्राहकाभावतो देवि जातौ जर्जर तामति

Transliteration

kalau tu jñānavairāgo vṛddharūpau nirutsavau | grāhakābhāvato devi jātau jarjara tāmati

Translation

Mais dans l’âge de Kali, ô Devī, la connaissance spirituelle et le détachement prennent l’aspect de la vieillesse : sans joie et sans fête. Faute de réceptacles dignes, on dit qu’ils naissent dans la décrépitude et l’infirmité.

Word by Word

• कलौ: in Kali(-yuga)
• कलौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of time)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/पक्षान्तरसूचक (particle, contrast)

• ज्ञान-वैराग्यौ: knowledge and dispassion
• ज्ञान-वैराग्यौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + वैराग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; कर्तृपद (subject)

• वृद्ध-रूपौ: having the form of old age; aged
• वृद्ध-रूपौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ज्ञान-वैराग्यौ)

• निरुत्सवौ: joyless; without festivity
• निरुत्सवौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरुत्सव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ज्ञान-वैराग्यौ)

• ग्राहक-अभावतः: due to the absence of recipients/seekers
• ग्राहक-अभावतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राहक (प्रातिपदिक) + अभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेतौ/कारणे (ablative of cause)

• देवि: O Goddess
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; सम्बोधन

• जातौ: have become; arisen
• जातौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जात (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-प्रत्ययान्त from √जन्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषण (of ज्ञान-वैराग्यौ)

• जर्जरौ: decrepit; worn out
• जर्जरौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जर्जर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण (of ज्ञान-वैराग्यौ)

• ताम्: her/that (state)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक (quotative/closure particle)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Kali-yuga (dharmic decline; jñāna-vairāgya become ineffective due to lack of adhikārin)

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse laments that in Kali-yuga even jñāna (true insight) and vairāgya (freedom from craving) appear weakened, because few are prepared to receive and live them. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, it highlights the need for Pati’s grace (Śiva) and disciplined sādhana when inner capacities in society are diminished.

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

When knowledge and detachment are ‘joyless’ in Kali-yuga, Saguna worship—Śiva as the accessible Lord worshipped in the Liṅga—becomes a stable support. Liṅga-pūjā, mantra, and bhakti purify the pashu (bound soul) and loosen pasha (bondage), preparing one for mature jñāna and vairāgya.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical Kali-yuga remedy is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with daily Liṅga-abhiṣeka and wearing/using Rudrākṣa for japa, supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of impermanence—thus rebuilding the ‘recipient’ capacity for jñāna and vairāgya.