Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 9

कालमान-निर्णयः

Determination of the Measures of Time

Devanagari script

मासस्त्रिंशदहोरात्रैर्दिव्यो मानुषवत्स्मृतः । संवत्सरो ऽपि देवानां मासैर्द्वादशभिस्तथा

Transliteration

māsastriṃśadahorātrairdivyo mānuṣavatsmṛtaḥ | saṃvatsaro 'pi devānāṃ māsairdvādaśabhistathā

Translation

（神々の）一か月は、人間と同じ尺度で三十の昼夜から成ると理解される。さらに神々の一年も、そのような月が十二集まって成ると説かれる。

Word by Word

• मासः: a month
• मासः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• त्रिंशत्-अहः-रात्रैः: by thirty day-nights (i.e., 30 days and nights)
• त्रिंशत्-अहः-रात्रैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिंशत् (संख्या) + अहः + रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (अहश्च रात्रिश्च) with संख्या-विशेषण ‘त्रिंशत्’

• दिव्यः: divine
• दिव्यः: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• मानुषवत्: like (in the manner of) humans
• मानुषवत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मानुषवत् (अव्यय/तद्धितान्त)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘like humans’)

• स्मृतः: is considered/called
• स्मृतः: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + स्मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/त) from √स्मृ; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate)

• संवत्सरः: a year
• संवत्सरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ-निपात (particle: ‘also/even’)

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• मासैः: by months
• मासैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• द्वादशभिः: with twelve
• द्वादशभिः: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (सामान्यतः नपुंसक/पुं), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; संख्या-विशेषण (मासैः)

• तथा: thus, likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘thus/likewise’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

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

It frames time (kāla) as an ordered principle within Shiva’s cosmic governance—reminding the seeker that worldly time and divine time are measured within a greater sacred order, supporting disciplined practice toward liberation.

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

By clarifying sacred measures of time, it supports worship performed with right observance (niyama)—festivals, vows, and pūjā timings offered to Saguna Shiva in the Linga are aligned with scriptural understanding of kāla.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain regularity of japa (especially the Panchakshara) and vrata by honoring sacred time—daily worship at fixed hours and observance of monthly/annual Śaiva vows with steadiness.