Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

षण्मासायुस्स विज्ञेयः कालचक्रं विजानता । अन्यच्च शृणु देवेशि येन मृत्युर्विबुद्ध्यते

Transliteration

ṣaṇmāsāyussa vijñeyaḥ kālacakraṃ vijānatā | anyacca śṛṇu deveśi yena mṛtyurvibuddhyate

Translation

Celui qui connaît la roue du Temps doit savoir que la durée (dont il est ici question) est de six mois. Écoute encore, ô Souveraine des Dévas, ce par quoi la vérité de la mort est comprise avec clarté.

Word by Word

• षण्मासायुः: a lifespan of six months
• षण्मासायुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षण्मास + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (षण्मासानाम् आयुः)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• विज्ञेयः: is to be known
• विज्ञेयः: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु) + य (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/भाव्य), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अर्थः—‘ज्ञातव्यः’ (to be known)

• कालचक्रम्: the wheel/cycle of time
• कालचक्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे ‘कालस्य चक्रम्’

• विजानता: by one who knows/understands
• विजानता: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present participle), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-रूपेण (agent in instr.)

• अन्यत्: another (thing)
• अन्यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• देवेशि: O Lady of the gods
• देवेशि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवेशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• येन: by which
• येन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masc/Neut), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन (Singular)

• मृत्युः: death
• मृत्युः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (Singular)

• विबुद्ध्यते: is understood/recognized
• विबुद्ध्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (is understood/recognized)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It frames death as something to be understood through discernment of Kāla (Time). In Shaiva Siddhanta, such knowledge turns the mind from mere fear of mortality toward clarity about bondage (pāśa) and the need to seek the Lord (Pati) for liberation.

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

By emphasizing Time’s cycle and the certainty of death, the verse implicitly directs the seeker to take refuge in Saguna Shiva—worship of Shiva (often through the Liṅga) is the practical means to transcend fear and attain grace that leads beyond Time-bound limitation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The immediate takeaway is śravaṇa (reverent listening to Shiva’s teaching) and contemplation on Kāla; this is naturally supported by daily Shiva upāsanā such as japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and meditative reflection on impermanence.