Shloka 12

पञ्चकृत्यलक्षणनिर्णयः

Definition of Śiva’s Five Cosmic Acts—Pañcakṛtya

Devanagari script

तत्सर्वं पौर्विकं कर्म युवाभ्यां कालविस्मृतम् । न तद्रुद्र महेशाभ्यां विस्मृतं कर्म तादृशम्

Transliteration

tatsarvaṃ paurvikaṃ karma yuvābhyāṃ kālavismṛtam | na tadrudra maheśābhyāṃ vismṛtaṃ karma tādṛśam

Translation

それらすべての古の行いは、汝ら二者にとっては時の流れによって忘れ去られた。だがルドラとマヘーシャにおいては、そのような行いが忘れられることは決してない。

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; adjective qualifying तत्

• पौर्विकम्: former/previous
• पौर्विकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पौर्विक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; adjective qualifying कर्म

• कर्म: deed, act
• कर्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular; subject of (कालविस्मृतम्)

• युवाभ्याम्: by you two
• युवाभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युवाम्/युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dual (द्विवचन), Instrumental (3/तृतीया); pronoun ‘by you two’

• काल-विस्मृतम्: forgotten with time
• काल-विस्मृतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + विस्मृत (कृदन्त, √स्मृ)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; past passive participle (क्त/ktá) ‘forgotten’; compound: ‘forgotten by time/with time’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha/Particle (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; demonstrative used adjectivally with कर्म

• रुद्र: O Rudra
• रुद्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8/सम्बोधन), Singular; address

• महेशाभ्याम्: by Mahesha (and the other)
• महेशाभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dual, Instrumental (3/तृतीया); ‘by Mahesha (and another)’; paired with implied dual (रुद्र-महेश)

• विस्मृतम्: forgotten
• विस्मृतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्मृत (कृदन्त, √स्मृ)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; past passive participle (क्त) qualifying कर्म

• कर्म: deed
• कर्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; subject (understood with ‘is forgotten’)

• तादृशम्: such (of that kind)
• तादृशम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; adjective qualifying कर्म

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana account to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The contrast between forgetful functionaries and unfailing Rudra/Maheśa supports the Siddhāntic distinction: paśu is subject to mala and kāla; Pati is beyond kāla and never obscured.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kāla as the cosmic principle causing forgetfulness/obscuration for finite beings

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Mahesha
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It contrasts limited beings who forget due to kāla (time) with Śiva (Rudra–Maheśa), whose awareness is not diminished—implying that refuge in Pati (the Lord) overcomes the instability of memory and worldly identity.

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

Linga-worship centers on Śiva as the timeless witness; the verse supports Saguna devotion (Rudra/Maheśa as personal Lord) while pointing to his Nirguna reality beyond time, in whom nothing is lost or forgotten.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Daily japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as smaraṇa (remembrance) of Śiva, cultivating steady awareness that counters kāla-born forgetfulness; optionally supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to constant recollection.