Shloka 24

Arjuna’s Mantra-Empowerment and the Pāṇḍavas’ Separation (Śiva-rūpa through Mantra)

Devanagari script

गतागतैर्दिनानां हि कार्यभारैरनेकशः । आयुश्च क्षीयते नित्यं न जानाति ह तत्पुनः

Transliteration

gatāgatairdinānāṃ hi kāryabhārairanekaśaḥ | āyuśca kṣīyate nityaṃ na jānāti ha tatpunaḥ

Translation

دنوں کے آنے جانے اور بے شمار کاموں کے بوجھ تلے بار بار دب کر انسان کی عمر مسلسل گھٹتی رہتی ہے؛ مگر وہ پھر بھی اسے حقیقتاً نہیں سمجھتا۔

Word by Word

• गत-आगतैः: by comings and goings
• गत-आगतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत (गम्-धातु, क्त) + आगत (आ+गम्-धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण (instrumental): 'by comings and goings'

• दिनानाम्: of days
• दिनानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• कार्य-भारैः: by burdens of tasks
• कार्य-भारैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य + भार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण (instrumental): 'by burdens of duties'

• अनेकशः: in many ways / repeatedly
• अनेकशः: Sambandha/Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनेकशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) = in many ways/repeatedly

• आयुः: lifespan
• आयुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्ता (subject)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• क्षीयते: diminishes
• क्षीयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षि (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (is diminished)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Sambandha/Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययभाव (adverbial accusative) = always

• न: not
• न: Sambandha/Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• जानाति: knows
• जानाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis/colloquial particle)

• तत्: that (fact)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• पुनः: again / further
• पुनः: Sambandha/Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) = again/further

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It warns against pramāda (spiritual heedlessness): while one remains absorbed in endless duties, time silently consumes life. Shaiva teaching urges turning awareness toward Shiva (Pati) so that diminishing time becomes a path to detachment and liberation rather than mere loss.

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

The Linga is the steady focus amid changing days and shifting obligations. By anchoring the mind in Saguna Shiva through Linga-puja, one counters distraction and remembers the impermanence of life, redirecting action into Shiva-arpana (offering to Shiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Daily japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with brief Linga-abhiṣeka or mental worship is implied as the practical antidote—transforming routine duties into remembrance, supported by simple disciplines like vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa where appropriate.