Shloka 36

Kāla-vañcana (Overcoming/Outwitting Time) and the Pañcabhūta Basis of the Body

Devanagari script

शतवृद्धः पुमांल्लब्ध्वा यावदायुस्समभ्यसेत् । मृत्युञ्जयवपुस्तम्भ आरोग्यं वायुवर्द्धनम्

Transliteration

śatavṛddhaḥ pumāṃllabdhvā yāvadāyussamabhyaset | mṛtyuñjayavapustambha ārogyaṃ vāyuvarddhanam

Translation

शंभर वर्षांचा वृद्ध पुरुषही हे साधन मिळाल्यावर आयुष्यभर याचा अभ्यास करावा. यामुळे मृत्युञ्जय-स्वरूपाचा आधार व स्थैर्य मिळते, आरोग्य लाभते आणि प्राणवायू वाढतो।

Word by Word

• शत-वृद्धः: aged a hundred (years)
• शत-वृद्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण

• पुमान्: a man
• पुमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुमांस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्ता

• लब्ध्वा: having obtained
• लब्ध्वा: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु) → लब्ध्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (having obtained)

• यावत्-आयुः: as long as (one has) life
• यावत्-आयुः: Kala (काल/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय; परिमाण/अवधि-वाचक (as long as life)

• समभ्यसेत्: should practise
• समभ्यसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+अभि+अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मृत्युञ्जय-वपु-स्तम्भ: support/steadiness of the body (through) Mṛtyuñjaya
• मृत्युञ्जय-वपु-स्तम्भ: Karta (कर्ता/फल-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्युञ्जय (प्रातिपदिक) + वपु (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; (फल/गुण-नाम) विधेय

• आरोग्यम्: health
• आरोग्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/फल-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आरोग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; फल-निर्देश

• वायु-वर्द्धनम्: increase of vital air (vāyu)
• वायु-वर्द्धनम्: Karta (कर्ता/फल-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्द्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; फल-निर्देश

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s teachings within the Umāsaṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mrityunjaya

FAQs

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

The verse teaches steadfast lifelong sādhana: even in extreme old age one should rely on Shiva as Mṛtyuñjaya, gaining inner fearlessness toward death and stability of body-mind through devotion and disciplined practice.

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

By invoking Mṛtyuñjaya, the devotee approaches Saguna Shiva—Shiva with compassionate form and function as protector—often worshipped through the Linga with mantra-japa and offerings, seeking both well-being and spiritual steadiness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Sustained Mṛtyuñjaya-oriented practice (typically japa and dhyāna on Shiva as the conqueror of death), maintained daily for life, aimed at ārogya (health) and vāyu/prāṇa strengthening.