Shloka 22

Pitṛbhakti and Śrāddha: The Classification of Pitṛs and the Superiority of Pitṛ-kārya

Devanagari script

ततः कालेन कियता कालधर्ममुपागताः । ते सप्त भ्रातरस्तात बभूवुस्स्वायुषःक्षये

Transliteration

tataḥ kālena kiyatā kāladharmamupāgatāḥ | te sapta bhrātarastāta babhūvussvāyuṣaḥkṣaye

Translation

やがて時がいくらか過ぎ、彼らはカーラ（時）の法、すなわち死に至った。いとしき者よ、その七人の兄弟は、それぞれの寿命が尽きたときに終焉を迎えた。

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb), तदर्थे/अनन्तरम् (thereafter)

• कालेन: with time / by time
• कालेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• कियतā: by how much (time) / after some time
• कियतā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कियत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies कालेन)

• कालधर्मम्: the law of time (death/inevitability)
• कालधर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कालस्य धर्मः = law/condition of time)

• उपागताः: having reached
• उपागताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘having reached/come to’

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-शब्दः; विशेषणम् (qualifies भ्रातरः)

• भ्रातरः: brothers
• भ्रातरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तात: O dear one / O father
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• बभूवुः: became / came to be
• बभूवुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्वायुषःक्षये: at the end of their own life
• स्वायुषःक्षये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + आयुस् + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य आयुषः क्षयः = end of their own lifespan)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kāla-dharma (the inevitability of death; time as dissolving power)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It underscores that all embodied beings are bound by Kāla (Time) and must face death when their allotted lifespan ends; in Shaiva Siddhanta, true refuge is Pati (Shiva), who alone is beyond Kāla and can grant liberation from saṃsāra.

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

By highlighting the inevitability of mortality, the verse implicitly directs the seeker to take shelter in Saguna Shiva through Linga-worship—devotion and surrender to Shiva as the compassionate Lord who guides the soul beyond time-bound existence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with remembrance of life’s impermanence is the key takeaway; it supports vairāgya and steady bhakti, preparing the mind for Shiva-centered liberation.