Shloka 14

शक्तितत्त्ववर्णनम् / Exposition of the Principle of Śakti

Devanagari script

कालस्य भावो नियतिर्यदृच्छा नात्र युज्यते । भूतानि योनिः पुरुषो योगी चैषां परो ऽथ वा

Transliteration

kālasya bhāvo niyatiryadṛcchā nātra yujyate | bhūtāni yoniḥ puruṣo yogī caiṣāṃ paro 'tha vā

Translation

Here, neither the mere “effect of time,” nor fate, nor chance can truly be taken as the ultimate cause. Manifested beings, Prakṛti—the primordial Nature, womb of forms—Puruṣa, the individual soul, and even the Yogin said to be beyond them: none of these is final in itself (for the Supreme Lord, Śiva, alone is the transcendent Reality).

Word by Word

• कालस्य: of time
• कालस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन

• भावः: existence/state/nature
• भावः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नियतिः: destiny/necessity
• नियतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यदृच्छा: chance/accident
• यदृच्छा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यदृच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• अत्र: here/in this (context)
• अत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb: here/in this matter)

• युज्यते: is applicable/fits
• युज्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (is applicable/fits)

• भूतानि: beings/elements
• भूतानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• योनिः: source/womb
• योनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पुरुषः: person/Puruṣa
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• योगी: yogin
• योगी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• एषाम्: of these/of them
• एषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), बहुवचन

• परः: higher/supreme
• परः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying implied subject)

• अथ: then/else
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तर/विकल्पार्थक (then/else)

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It denies that time, fate (niyati), or randomness are the final explanation of existence, and points toward Shiva (Pati) as the truly transcendent ground—beyond beings, prakriti (yoni), the individual purusha, and even exalted yogic states.

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

Linga-worship trains the mind to see Shiva as the Supreme beyond all categories (time, causality, nature, soul). Saguna devotion to the Linga leads the devotee toward realization of Shiva’s transcendence over prakriti and purusha.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as Kāla-atikrānta (beyond time) while repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” supporting practice with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha to cultivate detachment from fate-and-chance thinking and rest in the Lord as the highest refuge.