Shloka 20

शक्तितत्त्ववर्णनम् / Exposition of the Principle of Śakti

Devanagari script

तस्मात्सह तथा शक्त्या हृदि पश्यंति ये शिवम् । तेषां शाश्वतिकी शांतिर्नैतरेषामिति श्रुतिः

Transliteration

tasmātsaha tathā śaktyā hṛdi paśyaṃti ye śivam | teṣāṃ śāśvatikī śāṃtirnaitareṣāmiti śrutiḥ

Translation

Therefore, those who, together with Śakti, behold Śiva within the heart attain eternal peace; for the others, it is not so—thus declares the Śruti.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: from that/therefore
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• सह: together (with)
• सह: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गसदृशः सहार्थक-निपातः (particle meaning 'together/with')

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• शक्त्या: by/with (His) power (Śakti)
• शक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• हृदि: in the heart
• हृदि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• पश्यन्ति: they see
• पश्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• शाश्वतिकी: eternal
• शाश्वतिकी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाश्वतिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying)

• शान्तिः: peace
• शान्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

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

• इतरेषाम्: of others
• इतरेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Vacana-parisamapti (वचन-परिसमाप्ति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)

• श्रुतिः: scriptural statement/śruti
• श्रुतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya philosophical teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Ardhanārīśvara

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that lasting peace (śāśvatikī śānti) arises when the devotee realizes Śiva inwardly in the heart, inseparable from Śakti—implying grace-filled inner knowledge rather than mere external religiosity.

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

Linga worship trains the mind toward Śiva as the supreme reality; this verse points to its culmination—internalizing that worship so that the seeker perceives Śiva within, along with Śakti, beyond only outward form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Heart-centered dhyāna with mantra-japa (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), contemplating Śiva united with Śakti; supported by Shaiva disciplines like vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to steady remembrance.