Shloka 50

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

Devanagari script

ध्यायतो वंशनादं तु सर्वतत्त्वं प्रजायते । दुन्दुभिं ध्यायमानस्तु जरामृत्युविवर्जितः

Transliteration

dhyāyato vaṃśanādaṃ tu sarvatattvaṃ prajāyate | dundubhiṃ dhyāyamānastu jarāmṛtyuvivarjitaḥ

Translation

वंशनादं ध्यायतः सर्वतत्त्वबोधः प्रजायते। दुन्दुभिनादं ध्यायमानस्तु जरामृत्युभ्यां विवर्जितो भवति॥

Word by Word

• ध्यायतः: of (one) meditating
• ध्यायतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present participle), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘of one who meditates’

• वंशनादम्: the sound of the flute/bamboo
• वंशनादम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वंश + नाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वंशस्य नादः)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/particle

• सर्वतत्त्वम्: all reality/all principles
• सर्वतत्त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सर्वं तत्त्वम्)

• प्रजायते: is born/arises
• प्रजायते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• दुन्दुभिम्: the drum (dundubhi)
• दुन्दुभिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुन्दुभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ध्यायमानः: meditating (upon)
• ध्यायमानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present middle participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/particle

• जरामृत्युविवर्जितः: free from old age and death
• जरामृत्युविवर्जितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जरा + मृत्यु + विवर्जित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वपूर्वपद + उपपद-तत्पुरुष (जरामृत्युभ्यां विवर्जितः = free from old age and death)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching Uma/Parvati in the Umāsaṃhitā discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it links nāda-dhyāna to (1) sarva-tattva-jñāna and (2) jarā-mṛtyu-vivarjana—knowledge and deathlessness motifs.

Significance: Reorients ‘siddhi’ toward soteriology: tattva-jñāna (discriminative knowledge) aligns with Śaiva Siddhānta’s path of understanding categories leading to pāśa-kṣaya; jarā-mṛtyu-vivarjana echoes liberation/immortality ideals.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches nāda-upāsanā (contemplation of sacred sound): subtle sound-reflection awakens tattva-jñāna (knowledge of reality), and deeper absorption grants freedom from the bondage that culminates in aging and death—pointing to Shiva as Pati, the liberator.

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

Sound-based meditation functions like Linga-worship: the mind is anchored to a sacred support (ālambana). Through Saguna focus (audible symbol), the seeker is led toward the Siddhānta goal—grace-born insight and release from pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is focused meditation on nāda (sacred sound)—either externally (rhythmic, devotional sound) or internally (subtle resonance)—performed with steadiness and purity, as a yogic aid toward tattva-understanding and liberation.