Shloka 4

शक्तितत्त्ववर्णनम् / Exposition of the Principle of Śakti

Devanagari script

महदादिविशेषांतास्त्वजाद्याश्चापि मूर्तयः । यच्चान्यदस्ति तत्सर्वं तस्याः कार्यं न संशयः

Transliteration

mahadādiviśeṣāṃtāstvajādyāścāpi mūrtayaḥ | yaccānyadasti tatsarvaṃ tasyāḥ kāryaṃ na saṃśayaḥ

Translation

From Mahat (the great principle) down to the particularized elements, and also the embodied forms beginning with the skin and the rest—whatever else exists, all of it is indeed her effect; of this there is no doubt.

Word by Word

• mahat-ādi-viśeṣa-antāḥ: ending in the differentiations beginning with Mahat
• mahat-ādi-viśeṣa-antāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ending with the particularizations beginning with Mahat); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; mūrtayaḥ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• tu: but; indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) विरोध/विशेषार्थ (but/indeed)

• aja-ādyāḥ: beginning with Aja (Brahmā) and others
• aja-ādyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aja (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('Aja etc.'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; mūrtayaḥ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

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

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-निपात (also/even)

• mūrtayaḥ: forms; embodiments
• mūrtayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• yat: whatever (that which)
• yat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

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

• anyat: anything else
• anyat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• asti: exists
• asti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• tat: that
• tat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• sarvam: all
• sarvam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; tat इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• tasyāḥ: of her/that (fem.)
• tasyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• kāryam: effect; product
• kāryam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• na: no; not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• saṃśayaḥ: doubt
• saṃśayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'na saṃśayaḥ' = idiomatic negation

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: aśuddha-tattva expansion: from Mahat to viśeṣas and embodied faculties

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that the entire field of manifested reality—from cosmic intellect down to embodied experience—is a produced effect (kārya) dependent on the Divine Power (Śakti), while Shiva as Pati remains the transcendent ground beyond the effects.

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

By declaring the world as an effect of Śakti, it directs the devotee to worship Shiva in the Linga as the supreme Pati who is not limited by tattvas, while honoring Saguna manifestations as dependent expressions of that one Lord with His Power.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tattva-viveka in meditation: contemplate the body and its faculties (tvak-ādi) as effects, offer them inwardly to Shiva through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and rest awareness in the Lord beyond the manifest.