Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

क एष भगवान् कालः कस्य वा वशवर्त्ययम् । क एवास्य वशे न स्यात्कथयैतद्विचक्षण

Transliteration

ka eṣa bhagavān kālaḥ kasya vā vaśavartyayam | ka evāsya vaśe na syātkathayaitadvicakṣaṇa

Translation

贤者啊，这位可敬的时间（迦罗 Kāla）究竟是谁？它在谁的掌控下运行？又有谁，若真有其人，不落在它的权势之中？请明白开示。

Word by Word

• kaḥ: who?
• kaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; interrogative pronoun

• eṣaḥ: this
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• bhagavān: the Lord; venerable one
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• kālaḥ: Time
• kālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• kasya: of whom?
• kasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; interrogative

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; disjunctive/alternative particle (विकल्प)

• vaśa-vartī: subject to control
• vaśa-vartī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaśa (प्रातिपदिक) + vartin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; उपपद-तत्पुरुष ‘abiding in (someone’s) control’

• ayam: this (one)
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• kaḥ: who?
• kaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; interrogative

• eva: indeed; just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (अवधारण)

• asya: of him/of this
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• vaśe: in (the) control
• vaśe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation particle

• syāt: would be; might be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्, optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Singular; parasmaipada

• kathaya: tell; explain
• kathaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kathaya (कथय, नामधातु from kathā)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्, imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd person), Singular; parasmaipada

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vicakṣaṇa: O discerning one
• vicakṣaṇa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vicakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

Speaker

A questioning sage (disciple) addressing a wise narrator in the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā discourse (within Sūta-style Purāṇic narration).

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Kāla (Time)

FAQs

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

It frames a key Shaiva inquiry: the nature of Kāla as a power governing embodied existence, and the search for the Supreme principle (Pati/Śiva) who is ultimately beyond limitation and thus the ground of liberation.

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

By questioning who rules Time, the verse directs devotion toward the highest Lord who transcends temporal change; worship of the Liṅga as Saguna Śiva becomes a contemplative support to realize the timeless (beyond Kāla) reality of Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is contemplative japa with the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while reflecting that all change is governed by Kāla, and that refuge in Śiva leads beyond fear of time and death.