Shloka 55
Paramātma-Svarūpa-Nirṇaya: Strī–Puṃ–Napuṃsaka-Vicāra
Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms
आनन्दशक्तिस्तज्जास्यादिच्छाशक्तिस्तदुद्भवा । ज्ञानशक्तिस्ततो जाता क्रियाश क्तिस्तु पंचमी । एताभ्य एव संजाता निवृत्त्याद्याः कला मुने
ānandaśaktistajjāsyādicchāśaktistadudbhavā | jñānaśaktistato jātā kriyāśa ktistu paṃcamī | etābhya eva saṃjātā nivṛttyādyāḥ kalā mune
From that supreme Reality arises the Power of Bliss (Ānanda-śakti); from it is born the Power of Will (Icchā-śakti). Thereafter arises the Power of Knowledge (Jñāna-śakti), and as the fifth is the Power of Action (Kriyā-śakti). From these alone, O sage, are produced the kalās beginning with Nivṛtti.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Shakti Form: Umā
Role: creative
Cosmic Event: Emanation of śakti-catuṣṭaya and kalā-stream (nivṛtti-ādi) structuring the cosmos and the path of return
FAQs
It outlines Shiva’s fundamental śaktis—bliss, will, knowledge, and action—as the divine basis from which the liberating kalās (starting with Nivṛtti) arise, showing that liberation is enabled by Shiva’s own grace-power operating within the path.
In Linga/Saguna worship, the devotee approaches Shiva as the Lord endowed with śaktis; this verse explains that the same Shiva who is worshipped in form also functions through will, knowledge, and action to remove pāśa (bondage) and awaken the soul toward Pati.
Contemplate Shiva as the source of these śaktis while doing japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offering water and bilva to the Liṅga, and meditating that knowledge and action are purified by Shiva’s will leading to nivṛtti (cessation of bondage).