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Shloka 35

Adhyaya 16The Son’s Counsel on Renunciation and the Anasuya–Mandavya Episode: The Suspension of Sunrise and the Power of Pativrata

विना चायनविज्ञानात् कालः संवत्सरः कुतः ।

संवत्सरं विना नान्यत् कालज्ञानं प्रवर्तते ॥

vinā cāyanavijñānāt kālaḥ saṃvatsaraḥ kutaḥ |

saṃvatsaraṃ vinā nānyat kālajñānaṃ pravartate ||

अयनयोर्ज्ञानाभावे संवत्सराख्यः कालभागः कथं स्यात्? संवत्सराभावे कालज्ञानस्य अन्यत् सम्यक् न प्रवर्तते।

vināwithout
vinā:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपपद)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvinā (अव्यय)
FormPrepositional indeclinable (उपपद-अव्यय) meaning 'without'
caand
ca:
Nipāta (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction particle (समुच्चय-निपात)
ayana-vijñānātfrom knowledge of the ayanas
ayana-vijñānāt:
Apādāna (अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootayana + vijñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th: पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)
kālaḥtime
kālaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootkāla (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st: प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
saṃvatsaraḥ(as) the year
saṃvatsaraḥ:
Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootsaṃvatsara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st: प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); in apposition to kālaḥ
kutaḥhow/whence (could it be)?
kutaḥ:
Prashna (प्रश्न)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootkutaḥ (अव्यय/प्रश्न)
FormInterrogative indeclinable (प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय) meaning 'whence/how possible'
saṃvatsaramthe year
saṃvatsaram:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootsaṃvatsara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd: द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
vināwithout
vinā:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपपद)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvinā (अव्यय)
FormPrepositional indeclinable (उपपद-अव्यय) meaning 'without'
nanot
na:
Nipāta (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormNegation particle (निषेध-निपात)
anyatanything else
anyat:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootanya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd: प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); with na = 'nothing else'
kāla-jñānamknowledge of time
kāla-jñānam:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootkāla + jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd: प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
pravartateproceeds/operates
pravartate:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpra + √vṛt (वृत्)
FormPresent tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)
Devas (collective voice)

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Sūrya (implied)Devas (collective)
CosmologyTimekeepingDharmaRitual calendar

FAQs

The verse ranks temporal cognition: higher-order stability (year) depends on correctly apprehending foundational cycles (ayanas). Ethically, it implies that disciplined observation and tradition-based reckoning are prerequisites for orderly communal and ritual life.

Supports Manvantara/chronological material by emphasizing the year as a necessary unit for larger time-reckonings used in Purāṇic history, genealogies, and cosmic cycles.

Ayana can symbolize ‘direction’ or ‘course’ of consciousness. Without knowing one’s inner course, the ‘year’—a complete cycle of maturation—cannot be formed; without that, subtler timing (right season for action) fails.