Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 34

पञ्चकृत्यलक्षणनिर्णयः

Definition of Śiva’s Five Cosmic Acts—Pañcakṛtya

Devanagari script

सूर्यगत्या महाद्रा र्यामेकं कोटिगुणं भवेत् । मृगशीर्षांतिमो भागः पुनर्वस्वादिमस्तथा

Transliteration

sūryagatyā mahādrā ryāmekaṃ koṭiguṇaṃ bhavet | mṛgaśīrṣāṃtimo bhāgaḥ punarvasvādimastathā

Translation

依太阳的运行轨度，在宏大的时间分段次第之中，一单位可被放大至一俱胝（koṭi）倍。经中宣示了昴宿头（Mṛgaśīrṣa）的末分，亦同样宣示了井宿（Punarvasu）的初分。

Word by Word

• सूर्यगत्या: by the sun’s motion
• सूर्यगत्या: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य-गति (प्रातिपदिक); सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-एकवचन (Instrumental Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सूर्यस्य गतिः)

• महाद्रायाम्: in (the nakṣatra) Mahādrā/Ārdrā
• महाद्रायाम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-एकवचन (Locative Singular)

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन (Nom./Acc. Singular)

• कोटिगुणम्: crore-fold
• कोटिगुणम्: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि-गुण (प्रातिपदिक); कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कोट्या गुणः = crore-fold)

• भवेत्: would be / should become
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष-एकवचन (3rd person singular)

• मृगशीर्षान्तिमः: the last (part) of Mṛgaśīrṣa
• मृगशीर्षान्तिमः: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘भागः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृग-शीर्ष-अन्तिम (प्रातिपदिक); मृग (प्रातिपदिक) + शीर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (Nominative Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मृगशीर्षस्य अन्तिमः)

• भागः: portion/part
• भागः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (Nominative Singular)

• पुनर्वस्वादिमः: the first (part) of Punarvasu
• पुनर्वस्वादिमः: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुनर्वसु-आदिम (प्रातिपदिक); पुनर्वसु (प्रातिपदिक) + आदिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुनर्वसोः आदिमः)

• तथा: likewise/so
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus/likewise)

Speaker

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

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Solar motion used as a calibration for ritual time-divisions (kāla-vibhāga)

Characters & Entities

• Surya

FAQs

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

It highlights kāla (sacred time) as a divine order: when time is understood through cosmic measures like the Sun’s motion and nakshatras, worship is aligned with ṛta (cosmic harmony), supporting inner purity and steadiness in Shaiva sadhana.

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

In Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-archana—proper kāla and muhūrta are treated as aids that refine devotion and discipline; the verse frames how cosmic timing (Sun’s motion, nakshatra portions) informs sacred observance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use time-awareness in practice: perform japa of the Panchakshara and Linga-puja at carefully chosen auspicious periods (muhūrta/nakshatra portions), keeping the mind steady and the observance disciplined.