Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17

कालमान-निर्णयः

Determination of the Measures of Time

Devanagari script

एतेन क्रमयोगेन कल्पमन्वंतराणि च । सप्रजानि व्यतीतानि शतशो ऽथ सहस्रशः

Transliteration

etena kramayogena kalpamanvaṃtarāṇi ca | saprajāni vyatītāni śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ

Translation

ഈ ക്രമയോഗമായ കാലക്രമത്തിൽ കല്പങ്ങളും മന്വന്തരങ്ങളും തങ്ങളുടെ പ്രജകളോടുകൂടി നൂറുകളായും പിന്നെ ആയിരങ്ങളായും കടന്നുപോയിരിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• एतेन: by this
• एतेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग (सन्दर्भानुसार), तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; साधनवाचक

• क्रम-योगेन: by the method of sequence
• क्रम-योगेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुष; ‘क्रमस्य योगः’); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• कल्पम्: a kalpa
• कल्पम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अन्तराणि: intervals
• अन्तराणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; ‘intervals’

• मन्वन्तराणि: manvantaras
• मन्वन्तराणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुष; ‘मन्वन्तर’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• स-प्रजानि: together with their creatures
• स-प्रजानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुष/उपपद; ‘प्रजाभिः सह’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘व्यतीतानि’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• व्यतीतानि: have elapsed
• व्यतीतानि: Kriyā (क्रियासमान विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-अति-इ (धातु) → व्यतीत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘elapsed’

• शतशः: by hundreds
• शतशः: Saṅkhyā-parimāṇa (संख्या/परिमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + शस् (प्रत्यय/अव्ययीभावार्थ)
• Form: अव्यय; आवृत्तिवाचक (distributive/multiplicative adverb)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Vākyasaṃbandha (वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तर/प्रसङ्गसूचक (then/now)

• सहस्रशः: by thousands
• सहस्रशः: Saṅkhyā-parimāṇa (संख्या/परिमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शस् (प्रत्यय/अव्ययीभावार्थ)
• Form: अव्यय; आवृत्तिवाचक (multiplicative adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kalpa-manvantara cycles (repeated cosmic ages)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes the vast, repeating cycles of time—kalpas and manvantaras—showing the impermanence of worldly creation and pointing the seeker toward Shiva (Pati) as the timeless Reality beyond change.

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

Cosmic cycles pass away repeatedly, but the Linga signifies Shiva’s ever-present, stable principle; Saguna worship steadies the mind in devotion so one may realize the timeless Shiva beyond the rise and fall of worlds.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate kāla (time) and impermanence while doing japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” using Rudrākṣa for steadiness—aiming for detachment and single-pointed devotion to Shiva.