Shloka 17

काली-परिचयः / Himagiri Presents Kālī (Pārvatī) to Śiva

Devanagari script

न त्वां जानंति देवेश वेदाश्शास्त्राणि कृत्स्नशः । अतीतो महिमाध्वानं तव वाङ्मनसोः सदा

Transliteration

na tvāṃ jānaṃti deveśa vedāśśāstrāṇi kṛtsnaśaḥ | atīto mahimādhvānaṃ tava vāṅmanasoḥ sadā

Translation

O Lord of the gods, the Vedas and all the śāstras do not fully know You. The path of Your glory ever transcends the reach of speech and mind.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• jānanti: know
• jānanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘जानन्ति’ = know

• deveśa: O Lord of gods
• deveśa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva-īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; समास: देवानाम् ईशः (Lord of gods)

• vedāḥ: the Vedas
• vedāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• śāstrāṇi: the treatises/scriptures
• śāstrāṇi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāstra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• kṛtsnaśaḥ: entirely
• kṛtsnaśaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṛtsnaśas (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-निबद्ध)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb); ‘कृत्स्नशः’ = wholly, entirely

• atītaḥ: having surpassed
• atītaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati-√i (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘अतीतः’ = gone beyond/surpassed

• mahimā-adhvānam: the path/extent of (your) greatness
• mahimā-adhvānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahimā + adhvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समास: महिम्नः अध्वानम् (the path/extent of greatness)

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी, एकवचन

• vāk: speech
• vāk: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; (समाहार-द्वन्द्वे/समुच्चये ‘वाक्-मनसोः’ इत्यत्र)

• manasoḥ: (and) mind
• manasoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, द्विवचन; ‘मनसोः’ = of (the two:) mind(s) / speech and mind (dual construction)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Pārvatī (addressing Lord Śiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vedas
• Shastras

FAQs

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

It declares Śiva as the supreme Pati whose true greatness surpasses intellectual and scriptural grasp; liberation arises not from mere conceptual knowledge, but from grace-filled devotion and inner realization.

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

Though Śiva is ultimately beyond mind and speech (nirguṇa), devotees approach Him through accessible forms (saguṇa), especially the Śivaliṅga, where the infinite is honored through a sacred symbol and loving worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva with the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” letting speech and thought settle into reverence; complement with simple liṅga-pūjā (water/abhisheka) as a devotional doorway to the transcendent.