Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 15

कालमान-निर्णयः

Determination of the Measures of Time

Devanagari script

एतद्द्वादशसाहस्रं साधिकं च चतुर्युगम् । चतुर्युगसहस्रं यत्संकल्प इति कथ्यते

Transliteration

etaddvādaśasāhasraṃ sādhikaṃ ca caturyugam | caturyugasahasraṃ yatsaṃkalpa iti kathyate

Translation

On dit que cette mesure est de douze mille (années divines) et un peu plus, formant un cycle de quatre yuga. Mille cycles de quatre yuga de ce genre sont appelés un kalpa.

Word by Word

• etat: this
• etat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd: प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• dvādaśa-sāhasram: twelve-thousand (measure)
• dvādaśa-sāhasram: Karma/Pradhāna (कर्म/प्रधान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + sāhasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd: प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); dvigu compound meaning a number of thousands

• sādhikam: with an addition; plus (over and above)
• sādhikam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sādhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd: प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying the measure

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

• catur-yugam: a set of four yugas; a caturyuga
• catur-yugam: Karma/Pradhāna (कर्म/प्रधान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catur (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + yuga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd: प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); dvigu compound

• catur-yuga-sahasram: a thousand caturyugas
• catur-yuga-sahasram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catur (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + yuga (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd: प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa sense: 'of caturyugas, a thousand'

• yat: which
• yat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd: प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun referring to the preceding noun

• saṃkalpaḥ: a kalpa (as a term); 'saṃkalpa'
• saṃkalpaḥ: Pratijñā/Predicate-noun (विधेय/प्रातिपदिक-विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃkalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st: प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• iti: thus; as
• iti: Vākyārtha-marker (वाक्यार्थ-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• kathyate: is said; is called
• kathyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kath (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Passive voice (कर्मणि-प्रयोग), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kalpa definition (1000 caturyugas)

FAQs

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

It frames worldly history as rhythmic cycles (yuga and kalpa), pointing the seeker beyond temporary time into the timeless reality of Shiva (Pati), who remains unchanged through creation and dissolution.

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

By teaching the vast scale of cosmic time, the Purana directs devotion toward the stable refuge—Shiva worshipped as the Linga—who transcends these cycles while compassionately manifesting within them for the uplift of beings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplating yuga–kalpa cycles supports vairagya (detachment); pair this reflection with steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to anchor the mind in Shiva beyond time.