Shloka 4

Kālajñāna (Knowledge of Time) and Mṛtyu-cihna (Signs of Death): Śiva’s Instruction to Umā

Devanagari script

अद्यापि संशयस्त्वेकः कालचक्रं प्रति प्रभो । मृत्युचिह्नं यथा देव किं प्रमाणं यथायुषः

Transliteration

adyāpi saṃśayastvekaḥ kālacakraṃ prati prabho | mṛtyucihnaṃ yathā deva kiṃ pramāṇaṃ yathāyuṣaḥ

Translation

ହେ ପ୍ରଭୁ, କାଳଚକ୍ର ବିଷୟରେ ଏପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ମୋର ଗୋଟିଏ ସନ୍ଦେହ ଅଛି। ହେ ଦେବ, ଯେପରି ମୃତ୍ୟୁର ଚିହ୍ନ ଥାଏ, ସେପରି ନିୟତ ଆୟୁଷ୍ୟର ପ୍ରମାଣ କିମ୍ବା ନିଶ୍ଚିତ ସୂଚକ କ’ଣ?

Word by Word

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘today/now’)

• अपि: still, even
• अपि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारार्थक-अव्यय (particle: ‘also/even/still’)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• तु: however/indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषार्थक/विरोधार्थक-अव्यय (particle)

• एकः: one
• एकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (संशयः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• काल-चक्रम्: the wheel/cycle of time
• काल-चक्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘wheel of time’

• प्रति: towards, regarding
• प्रति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
• Form: उपपद-प्रयोगे अव्यय (preposition): ‘towards/with regard to’

• प्रभो: O Lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (संबोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• मृत्यु-चिह्नम्: sign of death
• मृत्यु-चिह्नम्: Karma/Topic (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक) + चिह्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘sign of death’

• यथा: how
• यथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘how/as’)

• देव: O God
• देव: Sambodhana (संबोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम

• प्रमाणम्: measure, criterion
• प्रमाणम्: Karma/Topic (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘measure/standard’

• यथा-आयुषः: of (one’s) lifespan, as per lifespan
• यथा-आयुषः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; आयुस् (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; अर्थः ‘of the lifespan (as it is)’

Speaker

Parvati

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse frames Time (Kāla) as a governing power over embodied life and asks for a true pramāṇa (reliable spiritual measure) of lifespan—pointing seekers toward Shiva’s higher teaching that transcends fear of death through right knowledge, karma-awareness, and devotion.

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

By addressing Shiva as the Lord over Time, the question implicitly turns the mind from worldly calculations to refuge in Saguna Shiva (as worshipped in the Linga), who grants steadiness, purification of karma, and ultimately liberation beyond the time-bound body.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is remembrance of Shiva amid uncertainty—steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and contemplative awareness of impermanence, supported by Shaiva disciplines like bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrāksha as aids to focus and detachment.