Shloka 16

Adhyaya 4: अहोरात्र-युग-मन्वन्तर-कल्पमान तथा प्रलयान्ते सृष्ट्युपक्रमः

Devanagari script

अहस्तत्रोदगयनं रात्रिः स्याद्दक्षिणायनम् एते रात्र्यहनी दिव्ये प्रसंख्याते विशेषतः

Transliteration

ahastatrodagayanaṃ rātriḥ syāddakṣiṇāyanam ete rātryahanī divye prasaṃkhyāte viśeṣataḥ

Translation

તે દિવ્ય વ્યવસ્થામાં ‘દિવસ’ ઉત્તરાયણ છે અને ‘રાત્રિ’ દક્ષિણાયણ; આ બે—દિવ્ય દિવસ અને દિવ્ય રાત્રિ—વિશેષ રીતે ચોક્કસ ગણાય છે.

Word by Word

• अहः (ahaḥ): day

• तत्र (tatra): there/in that context

• उदगयनम् (udagayanam): northward course (Uttarāyaṇa)

• रात्रिः (rātriḥ): night

• स्यात् (syāt): is/should be

• दक्षिणायनम् (dakṣiṇāyanam): southward course (Dakṣiṇāyaṇa)

• एते (ete): these

• रात्र्यहनी (rātryahanī): night and day

• दिव्ये (divye): divine/celestial

• प्रसंख्याते (prasaṃkhyāte): are computed/reckoned

• विशेषतः (viśeṣataḥ): especially/distinctly.

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames worship within Shiva-governed cosmic time: knowing divine day/night (Uttarāyaṇa–Dakṣiṇāyaṇa) supports choosing auspicious kala for Linga-puja and aligning the pashu’s discipline with the order set by Pati (Shiva).

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By emphasizing precise cosmic reckoning, it implies Shiva-tattva as the transcendent Pati who regulates kala (time) and its cycles, within which creation and dissolution proceed while Shiva remains the steady ground of order.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Kala-smarana (time-awareness) for sādhana: observing Uttarāyaṇa/Dakṣiṇāyaṇa as markers for intensified vrata, japa, and Linga-abhisheka—supporting Pāśupata-style discipline that loosens pāśa (bondage) for the pashu (soul).