Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 19

कालतत्त्वनिर्णयः / Doctrine of Kāla (Time) and Its Subordination to Śiva

Devanagari script

नाभिजात्यं न वै शीलं न बलं न च नैपुणम् । भवेत्कार्याय पर्याप्तं कालश्च ह्यनिरोधकः

Transliteration

nābhijātyaṃ na vai śīlaṃ na balaṃ na ca naipuṇam | bhavetkāryāya paryāptaṃ kālaśca hyanirodhakaḥ

Translation

ఉన్నత వంశం, సద్గుణం, బలం, నైపుణ్యం—ఇవేవీ ఒక్కటే కార్యసిద్ధికి సరిపోవు; ఎందుకంటే కాలము నిజంగా అనిరోధ్యమైన శక్తి.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation)

• अभिजात्यम्: noble birth
• अभिजात्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिजात्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (विधेय-समूह)

• न: nor
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis/indeed)

• शीलम्: good conduct/character
• शीलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा

• न: nor
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• बलम्: strength
• बलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा

• न: nor
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• नैपुणम्: skill/proficiency
• नैपुणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैपुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा

• भवेत्: would be/may be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कार्याय: for accomplishing the task
• कार्याय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• पर्याप्तम्: sufficient
• पर्याप्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर्याप्त (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (अभिजात्यं/शीलं/बलं/नैपुणम्)

• कालः: Time
• कालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निपात (for/indeed)

• अनिरोधकः: unstoppable/unchecked
• अनिरोधकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनिरोधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (कालः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahākāla

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara

Sthala Purana: The verse stresses the insufficiency of human endowments before the irresistible current of time; Mahākāla is invoked implicitly as the only power that can ‘open’ what time ‘closes’ through grace.

Significance: Encourages humility and surrender: worldly qualifications cannot guarantee success; devotees seek Śiva’s sanction (anugraha) for right fruition.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches humility: worldly advantages—birth, virtue, strength, and talent—cannot guarantee outcomes, because Kāla governs change; in Shaiva Siddhanta, true refuge is in Pati (Shiva), who alone can loosen the bonds (pāśa) that bind the soul (paśu).

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

Linga-worship trains the devotee to rely on Shiva rather than ego-based supports like status or ability; Saguna Shiva is approached as the compassionate Lord who guides beings through Time and karma toward liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice steady japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namah Shivaya) with a surrendering attitude, and meditate on Shiva as Kāla-kāla—beyond and ruling Time—especially during Mahashivratri observances.