Shloka 2

शक्तितत्त्ववर्णनम् / Exposition of the Principle of Śakti

Devanagari script

अनंताः शक्तयो यस्या इच्छाज्ञानक्रियादयः । मायाद्याश्चाभवन्वह्नोर्विस्फुलिंगा यथा तथा

Transliteration

anaṃtāḥ śaktayo yasyā icchājñānakriyādayaḥ | māyādyāścābhavanvahnorvisphuliṃgā yathā tathā

Translation

Her powers (Śakti) are infinite—such as the powers of will, knowledge, and action. From her, Māyā and the rest arose, just as sparks arise from fire.

Word by Word

• anantāḥ: endless
• anantāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ananta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (qualifying śaktayaḥ)

• śaktayaḥ: powers; energies
• śaktayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• yasyāḥ: of whom/which (fem.)
• yasyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• icchā-jñāna-kriyā-ādayaḥ: will, knowledge, action, and others
• icchā-jñāna-kriyā-ādayaḥ: Apposition (समानााधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: icchā (प्रातिपदिक) + jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + kriyā (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (list: will, knowledge, action, etc.); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (ādayaḥ)

• māyā-ādyāḥ: māyā and the rest
• māyā-ādyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (māyā as first member; 'māyā etc.'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• abhavan: became; arose
• abhavan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• vahnoḥ: of fire
• vahnoḥ: Apādāna (अपादानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• visphuliṅgāḥ: sparks
• visphuliṅgāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: visphuliṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (comparative particle); अर्थः—यथा (as/just as)

• tathā: so; likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अर्थः—तथा (so/likewise)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: emanation of Māyā and śaktis (cosmogonic unfolding)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti
• Maya

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Supreme’s Shakti is beginningless and unlimited, and that the cosmic functions—will, knowing, and doing—flow from her; even Māyā is not independent but proceeds from the Divine, like sparks from fire.

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

Linga worship honors Shiva as Pati together with his inseparable Shakti; recognizing that Māyā arises from the Divine helps the devotee see the Linga as the support beyond Māyā while still manifesting powers for creation, grace, and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva-Shakti as the source of icchā–jñāna–kriyā while japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), using Tripuṇḍra bhasma and Rudrāksha to steady remembrance that Māyā is a dependent power, not the ultimate reality.