Shloka 12

शक्तितत्त्ववर्णनम् / Exposition of the Principle of Śakti

Devanagari script

किं कारणं कुतो जाता जीवामः केन वा वयम् । कुत्रास्माकं संप्रतिष्ठा केन वाधिष्ठिता वयम्

Transliteration

kiṃ kāraṇaṃ kuto jātā jīvāmaḥ kena vā vayam | kutrāsmākaṃ saṃpratiṣṭhā kena vādhiṣṭhitā vayam

Translation

What is the cause (of this existence), and from where have we arisen? By whom do we live? Where is our true foundation, and by whom are we sustained and governed?

Word by Word

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• कारणम्: cause/reason
• कारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कुतः: from where
• कुतः: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नवाचक (from where/whence)

• जाताः: born
• जाताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘born’ (we are born)

• जीवामः: we live
• जीवामः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• केन: by whom/with what
• केन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• वा: or/indeed
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle)

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• कुत्र: where
• कुत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नवाचक स्थानवाचक (where)

• अस्माकम्: of us/our
• अस्माकम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), बहुवचन

• संप्रतिष्ठा: foundation/established position
• संप्रतिष्ठा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संप्रतिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• केन: by whom/with what
• केन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक निपात

• अधिष्ठिताः: governed/presided over
• अधिष्ठिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘presided over/ruled’ (we are governed)

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a philosophical inquiry within the Vāyavīya discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse turns the mind toward the core Shaiva Siddhanta inquiry: the soul (paśu) is dependent, and the ultimate cause, ground, and governor is Pati—Lord Shiva. It frames spiritual life as seeking the true source and support beyond transient worldly causes.

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

By asking who is the real sustainer and ruler, the verse points to Shiva as the indwelling Lord (antaryāmin). Linga worship provides a concrete Saguna focus for realizing that same supreme Pati who is the unseen foundation of all beings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is self-inquiry joined with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") while meditating on Shiva as the cause, support, and inner ruler; this can be complemented with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to Shaiva remembrance.