Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23

कालमान-निर्णयः

Determination of the Measures of Time

Devanagari script

अब्दे पञ्च सहस्राणि चत्वारिंशद्युतानि च । चत्वारिंशत्सहस्राणि पञ्च लक्षाणि चायुषि

Transliteration

abde pañca sahasrāṇi catvāriṃśadyutāni ca | catvāriṃśatsahasrāṇi pañca lakṣāṇi cāyuṣi

Translation

En une seule année, il y a cinq mille quarante yuta (dizaines de milliers) ; et dans la durée entière de la vie, au total, quarante mille et cinq lakṣa.

Word by Word

• अब्दे: in a year
• अब्दे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत् संख्यापद)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याविशेषण (indeclinable numeral used adjectivally)

• सहस्राणि: thousands
• सहस्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन

• चत्वारिंशत्-युतानि: together with forty (i.e., plus forty)
• चत्वारिंशत्-युतानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चत्वारिंशत् (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (चत्वारिंशता युतानि = accompanied by forty)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• चत्वारिंशत्-सहस्राणि: forty-thousands (40,000s)
• चत्वारिंशत्-सहस्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चत्वारिंशत् (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (चत्वारिंशत्सहस्राणि = forty-thousands)

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत् संख्यापद)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याविशेषण

• लक्षाणि: lakhs (hundred-thousands)
• लक्षाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• आयुषि: in the lifespan
• आयुषि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: macro-time computation (year/lifespan) within purāṇic cosmography

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

By quantifying time and lifespan, the verse urges vairāgya (detachment) and prompts the seeker to prioritize Shiva-bhakti and liberation over fleeting worldly measures.

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

Awareness of limited time strengthens disciplined Saguna worship—daily Linga-pūjā, remembrance of Shiva as Pati (the Lord), and steady devotion that leads beyond pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use time-awareness to commit to a fixed daily sādhana: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Linga-abhiṣeka when possible, and regular application of Tripuṇḍra with mindful remembrance of Shiva.