Shloka 55

Adhyaya 61 — ग्रह-नक्षत्र-स्थाननिर्णयः

Cosmic Abodes of Luminaries and the Shaiva Order of Time

Devanagari script

क्षणश्चापि निमेषादिः कालः कालविदां वराः श्रवणान्तं धनिष्ठादि युगं स्यात्पञ्चवार्षिकम्

Transliteration

kṣaṇaścāpi nimeṣādiḥ kālaḥ kālavidāṃ varāḥ śravaṇāntaṃ dhaniṣṭhādi yugaṃ syātpañcavārṣikam

Translation

Ó melhor entre os conhecedores do Tempo: a unidade chamada kṣaṇa, começando pelo nimeṣa e pelos demais, é de fato o próprio Tempo. E o yuga que se inicia em Dhaniṣṭhā e se estende até Śravaṇā é dito ser um ciclo de cinco anos.

Word by Word

• क्षणः (kṣaṇaḥ): a moment, an instant

• च (ca): and

• अपि (api): also

• निमेष-आदिः (nimeṣa-ādiḥ): beginning with the blink (nimeṣa) and other units

• कालः (kālaḥ): Time

• काल-विदाम् (kāla-vidām): of those who know time/chronology

• वराः (varāḥ): O best/excellent ones

• श्रवण-अन्तम् (śravaṇa-antam): ending with (extending up to) Śravaṇā

• धनिष्ठ-आदि (dhaniṣṭhā-ādi): beginning with Dhaniṣṭhā

• युगम् (yugam): cycle/period

• स्यात् (syāt): is said to be/should be

• पञ्च-वार्षिकम् (pañca-vārṣikam): consisting of five years

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It grounds Shiva-puja in sacred timekeeping, indicating that worship, vratas, and consecrations (pratiṣṭhā) should be aligned with precise kāla-units and calendrical cycles recognized by jyotiṣa.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By defining kāla systematically, the verse points to the Shaiva Siddhānta view that Time is a governing principle within the manifested order (pāśa), while Pati (Shiva) remains the transcendent Lord who presides over kāla without being bound by it.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Ritual timing (muhūrta/jyotiṣa-based observance) is emphasized—choosing proper calendrical periods and nakṣatra-based cycles for Shiva-vratas, dāna, and linga-related rites rather than a specific yogic technique.