Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 20

कालतत्त्वनिर्णयः / Doctrine of Kāla (Time) and Its Subordination to Śiva

Devanagari script

ये सनाथाश्च दातारो गीतवाद्यैरुपस्थिताः । ये चानाथाः परान्नादाः कालस्तेषु समक्रियः

Transliteration

ye sanāthāśca dātāro gītavādyairupasthitāḥ | ye cānāthāḥ parānnādāḥ kālasteṣu samakriyaḥ

Translation

Qu’ils soient des bienfaiteurs prospères, soutenus et entourés de chants et d’instruments, ou qu’ils soient des démunis vivant de la nourriture donnée par autrui, le Temps (Kāla) agit avec la même puissance sur tous.

Word by Word

• ye: those who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sanāthāḥ: having a protector/support
• sanāthāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective qualifying 'ye/dātāraḥ'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• dātāraḥ: givers/donors
• dātāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• gīta-vādyaiḥ: with songs and musical instruments
• gīta-vādyaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gīta (प्रातिपदिक) + vādya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); dvandva compound meaning 'songs and instruments'

• upasthitāḥ: present/arrived
• upasthitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-√sthā (स्था धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/क्तवतु-भाव), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with 'dātāraḥ/ye'

• ye: those who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• anāthāḥ: without a protector/helpless
• anāthāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective qualifying 'ye'

• para-annādāḥ: those who live on others’ food
• para-annādāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + annāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: 'others’ food-eaters'

• kālaḥ: time
• kālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• teṣu: among them/in them
• teṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sama-kriyaḥ: acting equally (impartial)
• sama-kriyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक) + kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); adjective of 'kālaḥ' meaning 'equal in action/effect'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahākāla

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara

Sthala Purana: Time levels social distinctions: the protected donor with music and the unsupported dependent alike are subject to Kāla; Mahākāla is the equalizer and final arbiter.

Significance: Cultivates sama-darśana and compassion; motivates dāna and bhakti without pride, knowing time spares none.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches vairāgya: social status, wealth, and dependence are all transient because Kāla operates equally on everyone; therefore one should seek refuge in Pati (Shiva), who alone is beyond time and bondage.

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

Linga worship centers the devotee in the timeless Reality of Shiva; by turning from changing conditions to steady devotion (bhakti) and remembrance, one aligns with the Lord who transcends Kāla that governs embodied life.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily japa of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with meditation on impermanence, offering simple worship to the Shiva-Linga to cultivate detachment and God-centered living.