Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 11

कालमान-निर्णयः

Determination of the Measures of Time

Devanagari script

दिव्येनैव प्रमाणेन युगसंख्या प्रवर्तते । चत्वारि भारते वर्षे युगानि कवयो विदुः

Transliteration

divyenaiva pramāṇena yugasaṃkhyā pravartate | catvāri bhārate varṣe yugāni kavayo viduḥ

Translation

Sa pamantayang banal lamang ng pagsukat umiikot ang pagbibilang ng mga yuga. Nalalaman ng mga pantas na sa Bhārata-varṣa ay may apat na yuga.

Word by Word

• दिव्येन: by divine (measure)
• दिव्येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; विशेषण (instrumental)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• प्रमाणेन: by the measure/standard
• प्रमाणेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; करण

• युग-संख्या: the count/number of yugas
• युग-संख्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक) + संख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (युगानां संख्या)

• प्रवर्तते: proceeds/operates
• प्रवर्तते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• चत्वारि: four
• चत्वारि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• भारते: in Bhārata (India)
• भारते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भारत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; विशेषण (locative)

• वर्षे: in a year / in the year
• वर्षे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• युगानि: yugas
• युगानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन

• कवयः: sages/poets
• कवयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• विदुः: know/declare
• विदुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Yuga-saṃkhyā introduced; four yugas in Bhārata-varṣa under divine measure

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames time (kāla) as governed by a divine order, reminding the seeker that worldly ages rise and fall under a higher cosmic law, while devotion to Pati (Shiva) is the stable refuge beyond changing yugas.

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

The four-yuga framework explains why forms of worship and dharma practices vary by age; Saguna worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—remains an accessible, age-transcending means to connect with Shiva amidst yuga-based decline in capacity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady daily Shiva-sādhana suited to one’s age and ability—japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple Linga worship—since time cycles change, but disciplined devotion can be maintained in every yuga.