Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 18

कालमान-निर्णयः

Determination of the Measures of Time

Devanagari script

अज्ञेयत्वाच्च सर्वेषामसंख्येयतया पुनः । शक्यो नैवानुपूर्व्याद्वै तेषां वक्तुं सुविस्तरः

Transliteration

ajñeyatvācca sarveṣāmasaṃkhyeyatayā punaḥ | śakyo naivānupūrvyādvai teṣāṃ vaktuṃ suvistaraḥ

Translation

由于它们对一切众生皆不可尽知，又因其数目无量无边，故绝不可能按次第将其详尽叙述。

Word by Word

• अज्ञेयत्वात्: because of unknowability
• अज्ञेयत्वात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-ज्ञेय (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; हेतुवाचक अपादान (ablative of cause)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; ‘of all (of them)’

• असंख्येयतया: due to being innumerable
• असंख्येयतया: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-संख्येय (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + ता (प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; कारण/हेतुवाचक (instrumental of cause)

• पुनः: further
• पुनः: Vākyasaṃbandha (वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति/पुनरावृत्तिसूचक (again/further)

• शक्यः: possible
• शक्यः: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेयविशेषणम् (predicate adjective)

• न: not
• न: Niṣedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• एव: indeed/at all
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/only)

• अनुपूर्व्यात्: in sequence (in order)
• अनुपूर्व्यात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुपूर्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; हेतुवाचक (ablative: ‘in due order/sequence’)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/खल्वर्थ (indeed)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• वक्तुम्: to describe
• वक्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) → वक्तुम् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive); ‘to speak/tell’

• सुविस्तरः: a very detailed account
• सुविस्तरः: Karma (कर्म/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-विस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (कर्मधारय; ‘सु’ उपसर्गेण विशेषितः ‘विस्तरः’); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘वक्तुं’ इत्यस्य विषयः

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: innumerability/unknowability of cosmic cycles

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes Shiva’s transcendence: the Supreme (Pati) is ultimately beyond complete intellectual grasp, and His manifestations are infinite—so scripture guides devotion and realization rather than exhausting description.

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

Since Nirguna Shiva is “unknowable” and limitless, the tradition upholds Saguna supports—especially the Shiva Linga, mantra, and iconography—as compassionate means to approach and realize the same Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt steady upasana rather than mere enumeration: japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namah Shivaya), dhyana on the Linga, and Shaiva disciplines like bhasma (Tripundra) and rudraksha to stabilize devotion and contemplation.