Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

अष्टघस्रप्रभेदेन द्विवर्षं हि स जीवति । चतुर्मासा हि विज्ञेयाश्चतुर्विंशद्दिनावधिः

Transliteration

aṣṭaghasraprabhedena dvivarṣaṃ hi sa jīvati | caturmāsā hi vijñeyāścaturviṃśaddināvadhiḥ

Translation

Pela divisão chamada «aṣṭa-ghasra», ele de fato vive por dois anos. Sabe que os quatro meses, segundo essa medida, são contados com a duração de vinte e quatro dias (cada um).

Word by Word

• अष्टघस्रप्रभेदेन: by the division called ‘aṣṭaghasra’
• अष्टघस्रप्रभेदेन: करण (Karaṇa/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट-घस्र-प्रभेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः (बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः) — पाठभेद/दुर्लभपद; ‘प्रभेद’ = भेद/विभाग

• द्विवर्षम्: two years
• द्विवर्षम्: कर्म (Karma/Object/measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि-वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगुसमासः (द्वे वर्षे)

• हि: indeed
• हि: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle; indeed)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• जीवति: lives
• जीवति: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चतुर्मासाः: four months
• चतुर्मासाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्-मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; द्विगुसमासः (चत्वारः मासाः)

• हि: indeed
• हि: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle; indeed)

• विज्ञेयाः: are to be known
• विज्ञेयाः: विधेय (Predicate/Complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-√ज्ञा (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कृदन्त (gerundive/तव्यत्), विधेयविशेषण (predicate adjective)

• चतुर्विंशत्: twenty-four
• चतुर्विंशत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्-विंशति (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, अव्ययवत्/प्रातिपदिक; (qualifying ‘दिन’)

• दिन: day(s)
• दिन: सम्बन्ध (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूप (समासाङ्ग)

• अवधिः: limit/extent
• अवधिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights that embodied life is governed by measured time and limitation; in Shaiva Siddhanta this underlines the soul (paśu) bound by time and karma (pāśa), and the need to seek Shiva (Pati) who transcends time.

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

By contrasting finite, calculated lifespan with Shiva’s timeless reality, it indirectly supports Saguna Shiva worship (Linga as accessible form) as a means to move from temporal limitation toward the timeless Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is disciplined observance of time-based vows—regular japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namah Shivaya) and worship in fixed daily/seasonal cycles (vrata, caturmāsya observances) to purify bondage and align life with Shiva.