Shloka 18

शक्तितत्त्ववर्णनम् / Exposition of the Principle of Śakti

Devanagari script

यः कारणान्यशेषाणि कालात्मसहितानि च । अप्रमेयो ऽनया शक्त्या सकलं यो ऽधितिष्ठति

Transliteration

yaḥ kāraṇānyaśeṣāṇi kālātmasahitāni ca | aprameyo 'nayā śaktyā sakalaṃ yo 'dhitiṣṭhati

Translation

He who holds within Himself all causes without remainder—together with Time as their very essence—He, the immeasurable Lord, by this (His) Śakti, sustains and governs the entire universe.

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• कारणानि: causes
• कारणानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• अशेषाणि: all, without remainder
• अशेषाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; विशेषण—कारणानि

• कालात्मसहितानि: accompanied by the time-principle
• कालात्मसहितानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल-आत्मन्-सहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—कालात्मना सहितानि (with Time-self)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अप्रमेयः: immeasurable, unfathomable
• अप्रमेयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्रमेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण—यः (सः)

• अनया: by this (she/this)
• अनया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• शक्त्या: by (his) power/Śakti
• शक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• सकलम्: the whole (universe)
• सकलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; पुनरुक्त-यः—सम्बन्धबोधक (relative)

• अधितिष्ठति: presides over, governs
• अधितिष्ठति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि+स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares Shiva as Pati—the immeasurable Supreme who stands beyond all measures and yet holds all causal principles, including Time, and therefore alone is the ultimate refuge for liberation.

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

The Linga is worshipped as the sign of the immeasurable Lord (aprameya). Through Saguna worship—form, mantra, and symbol—the devotee contemplates the same Shiva who transcends Time and sustains all causes.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the inner ruler (adhitiṣṭhātā) using japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as aids to steadiness and Shaiva remembrance.