Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23

रुद्र-विष्णोः ऐकत्व-उपदेशः तथा धर्म-आज्ञा

Instruction on Rudra–Viṣṇu Unity and Divine Injunctions

Devanagari script

षड्भिच्छवासनिश्वासैः पलमेकं प्रवर्तितम् । घटी षष्टि पलाः प्रोक्ता सा षष्ट्या च दिनं निशा

Transliteration

ṣaḍbhicchavāsaniśvāsaiḥ palamekaṃ pravartitam | ghaṭī ṣaṣṭi palāḥ proktā sā ṣaṣṭyā ca dinaṃ niśā

Translation

Par six souffles —inspiration et expiration— on compte un pala. Soixante palas forment, dit-on, une ghaṭī; et soixante ghaṭīs constituent un jour et une nuit.

Word by Word

• ṣaḍbhiḥ: by six
• ṣaḍbhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṭ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-विशेषण; पुं/नपुंसक; तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• chavāsa-niśvāsaiḥ: by inhalations and exhalations
• chavāsa-niśvāsaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chavāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + niśvāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (chavāsāś ca niśvāsāś ca); पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• palam: a pala (time/measure unit)
• palam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ekam: one
• ekam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (palam)

• pravartitam: is established/defined
• pravartitam: Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः—defined/established

• ghaṭī: a ghaṭī (time unit)
• ghaṭī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghaṭī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ṣaṣṭi: sixty
• ṣaṣṭi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; (अव्ययवत्) प्रथमा-एकवचनरूपेण प्रयोगः; विशेषणम् (palāḥ)

• palāḥ: palas
• palāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• proktā: is said/declared
• proktā: Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vac (धातु)
• Form: कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; (ghaṭī इत्यस्य विधेय)

• sā: that (it)
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ṣaṣṭyā: by sixty
• ṣaṣṭyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• dinam: day
• dinam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• niśā: night
• niśā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse frames time (kāla) as an ordered principle within creation, reminding the seeker that disciplined awareness of breath and time supports dharma and steadiness of mind—foundations for approaching Shiva, the Lord who transcends time yet governs it as cosmic order.

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

In Saguna worship, regularity and correct observance (daily pūjā, vrata timings, and japa counts) depend upon recognized measures of time. By defining pala and ghaṭī through breath, the Purana links embodied practice to the ordered rhythm in which Linga-worship is traditionally performed.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Breath-aware japa: use measured breathing to stabilize mantra repetition (such as the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), letting the breath become a natural metronome for meditation and daily Shiva-sādhana.