Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 19
कालतत्त्वनिर्णयः / Doctrine of Kāla (Time) and Its Subordination to Śiva
नाभिजात्यं न वै शीलं न बलं न च नैपुणम् । भवेत्कार्याय पर्याप्तं कालश्च ह्यनिरोधकः
nābhijātyaṃ na vai śīlaṃ na balaṃ na ca naipuṇam | bhavetkāryāya paryāptaṃ kālaśca hyanirodhakaḥ
ಉನ್ನತ ಜನ್ಮವೂ ಅಲ್ಲ, ಶೀಲವೂ ಅಲ್ಲ, ಬಲವೂ ಅಲ್ಲ, ನೈಪುಣ್ಯವೂ ಅಲ್ಲ—ಇವುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾವುದೂ ಒಂಟಿಯಾಗಿ ಕಾರ್ಯಸಿದ್ಧಿಗೆ ಸಾಕಾಗದು; ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ಕಾಲವು ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ಅನಿರೋಧ್ಯ.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahākāla
Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara
Sthala Purana: The verse stresses the insufficiency of human endowments before the irresistible current of time; Mahākāla is invoked implicitly as the only power that can ‘open’ what time ‘closes’ through grace.
Significance: Encourages humility and surrender: worldly qualifications cannot guarantee success; devotees seek Śiva’s sanction (anugraha) for right fruition.
FAQs
It teaches humility: worldly advantages—birth, virtue, strength, and talent—cannot guarantee outcomes, because Kāla governs change; in Shaiva Siddhanta, true refuge is in Pati (Shiva), who alone can loosen the bonds (pāśa) that bind the soul (paśu).
Linga-worship trains the devotee to rely on Shiva rather than ego-based supports like status or ability; Saguna Shiva is approached as the compassionate Lord who guides beings through Time and karma toward liberation.
Practice steady japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namah Shivaya) with a surrendering attitude, and meditate on Shiva as Kāla-kāla—beyond and ruling Time—especially during Mahashivratri observances.