Shloka 71

Paramātma-Svarūpa-Nirṇaya: Strī–Puṃ–Napuṃsaka-Vicāra

Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms

Devanagari script

एषैवेच्छाशक्तितत्वं सर्वकृत्यानुवर्तनात् । ज्ञानक्रियाशक्तियुग्मे ज्ञानाधिक्ये सदाशिवः

Transliteration

eṣaivecchāśaktitatvaṃ sarvakṛtyānuvartanāt | jñānakriyāśaktiyugme jñānādhikye sadāśivaḥ

Translation

これこそが「イッチャー・シャクティ（意志の力）」の原理である。万般のはたらきを統べ、導くがゆえに。さらに、知の力と行の力が対となって現れ、しかも知が優勢となるとき、その境地は「サダーシヴァ」と呼ばれる。

Word by Word

• एषा: this (she/this)
• एषा: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन (sg.)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• इच्छा-शक्ति-तत्त्वम्: the principle of the will-power
• इच्छा-शक्ति-तत्त्वम्: प्रधानीय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (इच्छायाः शक्तेः तत्त्वम् / इच्छाशक्तेः तत्त्वम्)

• सर्व-कृत्य-अनुवर्तनात्: because of following all functions
• सर्व-कृत्य-अनुवर्तनात्: हेतु/अपादान (Hetu/Reason; Apādāna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुवर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), पञ्चमी विभक्ति (5th/अपादान-हेतु), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषां कृत्यानाम् अनुवर्तनम्)

• ज्ञान-क्रिया-शक्ति-युग्मे: in the pair of knowledge and action powers
• ज्ञान-क्रिया-शक्ति-युग्मे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + युग्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी विभक्ति (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुष (ज्ञानक्रियाशक्त्योः युग्मे)

• ज्ञान-अधिक्ये: when knowledge predominates
• ज्ञान-अधिक्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी विभक्ति (7th), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुष (ज्ञानस्य अधिक्ये)

• सदा-शिवः: Sadāśiva
• सदा-शिवः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदा (अव्यय) + शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—कर्मधारय (सदा शिवः)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: governance of cosmic functions via icchā-śakti; emergence of Sadāśiva-state (jñāna-ādhikya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sadāśiva
• Śakti

FAQs

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

It defines how Śiva’s divine powers operate: Icchā (will) governs all activity, and when Jñāna (knowledge) outweighs Kriyā (action), the revealing, grace-bestowing mode of the Lord is recognized as Sadāśiva—pointing the seeker toward liberation through awakened understanding.

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

In Linga worship, the devotee approaches Saguna Śiva as the manifest focus of the Lord’s powers; this verse explains the inner theology behind that worship—Śiva as the supreme Pati whose Śaktis (will, knowledge, action) make the Linga a living symbol of consciousness and grace, not a mere emblem.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as Sadāśiva by steadying the will (icchā) and cultivating predominance of right knowledge (jñāna) through japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and contemplation of Śiva-tattva during Linga-dhyāna.