Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 64

Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā

Devanagari script

तदंते कालचक्रं हि कालातीतस्ततः परम् । शिवेनाधिष्ठितस्तत्र कालश्चक्रेश्वराह्वयः

Transliteration

tadaṃte kālacakraṃ hi kālātītastataḥ param | śivenādhiṣṭhitastatra kālaścakreśvarāhvayaḥ

Translation

在其尽处，确有“时间之轮”；而超越时间者，是至上实相。于彼处，在湿婆的安立与主宰之下，时间安住其间，名为“轮主”（Cakreśvara），即轮之主宰。

Word by Word

• तत्-अन्ते: at its end
• तत्-अन्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; ‘तत्’ + ‘अन्ते’ = ‘तदन्ते’ (at its end); अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः

• काल-चक्रम्: the wheel of time
• काल-चक्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (kālasya cakram)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/हेतु-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• काल-अतीतः: beyond time
• काल-अतीतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + अतीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (kālam atītaḥ = beyond time)

• ततः: from there/thereafter
• ततः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय/तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb)

• परम्: further/supreme
• परम्: Gati/Avyaya-bhava (गति/अव्ययभाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (neuter accusative singular used adverbially)

• शिवेन: by Śiva
• शिवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• अधिष्ठितः: presided over
• अधिष्ठितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधि-स्था (धातु) → अधिष्ठित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘अधिष्ठितः’ = ‘presided over/established’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• कालः: Time (personified)
• कालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• चक्र-ईश्वर-आह्वयः: named ‘Cakreśvara’ (Lord of the Wheel)
• चक्र-ईश्वर-आह्वयः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + आह्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (cakrasya īśvaraḥ iti āh्वयः = named ‘Lord of the Wheel’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Meditation on Śiva as Kāla-atīta (beyond time) loosens fear of death and change; cultivates vairāgya and orientation to the timeless Pati.

Mantra Metadata

Type: mahamrityunjaya

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kālacakra (time-cycle) and transcendence of time (kālātīta)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kala
• Cakreshvara

FAQs

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

It teaches that Time (kāla) and its cyclical force (kālacakra) are not ultimate; Śiva is kālātīta—transcendent—and even Time functions only under His lordship, pointing the seeker toward liberation beyond temporal bondage.

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

Saguna Śiva is contemplated as the cosmic ruler who regulates time and destiny (here, as Cakreśvara), while the Linga ultimately signifies the timeless, nirguna reality of Śiva that the devotee realizes beyond all cycles.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as kālātīta while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offering bhasma and water to the Liṅga with the intent of transcending fear of time, decay, and death.