Shloka 69

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

Devanagari script

वामचारः समाख्यातो दक्षिणं शृणु सांप्रतम् । अष्टाविंशप्रवाहेण तिथिमानेन जीवति

Transliteration

vāmacāraḥ samākhyāto dakṣiṇaṃ śṛṇu sāṃpratam | aṣṭāviṃśapravāheṇa tithimānena jīvati

Translation

かくして左の行（ヴァーマチャーラ）は説き明かされた。今まさに、右の行（ダクシナ）を聞け。それは二十八の流れにより進み、ティティ（陰暦の月日）の量によって律せられる。

Word by Word

• वाम-चारः: the left-hand practice
• वाम-चारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम + चार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—वामः चारः (left course/practice)

• समाख्यातः: is called
• समाख्यातः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-ख्या (धातु) से क्त
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) used predicatively: ‘is called/declared’

• दक्षिणम्: the right (path)
• दक्षिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; here ‘the right (path)’ as object of ‘शृणु’

• शृणु: hear
• शृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सांप्रतम्: now
• सांप्रतम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सांप्रतम् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb) ‘now/at present’

• अष्टा-विṃश-प्रवाहेण: by the flow/cycle of twenty-eight
• अष्टा-विṃश-प्रवाहेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टा + विंशति + प्रवाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—अष्टाविंशत्-प्रवाहः (flow/cycle of 28)

• तिथि-मानॆन: by the measure of tithis (lunar days)
• तिथि-मानॆन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिथि + मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—तिथेः मानम् (measure by lunar days)

• जीवति: lives/continues
• जीवति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that Shaiva practice is not arbitrary: spiritual discipline is aligned with cosmic order (kāla). By pointing to tithi-based regulation, it emphasizes niyama—structured observance that supports purity, steadiness, and progress toward Shiva (Pati) in a Shaiva Siddhanta sense.

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

Linga worship in the Shiva Purana is often performed with attention to auspicious timings (tithis, vrata days, monthly observances). This verse signals that the ‘rightward’ regulated mode of practice honors Saguna Shiva through orderly ritual, calendar-based vows, and disciplined worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests tithi-observant worship: performing Shiva-puja, vrata, japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and related disciplines on prescribed lunar days (e.g., pradosha, chaturdashi/Mahashivratri), keeping practice aligned with the lunar sacred calendar.