Shloka 31

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

Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms

Devanagari script

जीवाश्रितायाश्चिच्छक्तेर्दौर्बल्यं विद्यते सदा । तन्निवृत्यर्थमेवात्र शक्तित्वं सार्वकालिकम्

Transliteration

jīvāśritāyāścicchakterdaurbalyaṃ vidyate sadā | tannivṛtyarthamevātra śaktitvaṃ sārvakālikam

Translation

ജീവനിൽ ആശ്രിതമായ ചിത്‌ശക്തി എപ്പോഴും ദൗർബല്യമുള്ളതായി കാണപ്പെടുന്നു. ആ പരിമിതി നീക്കാനായി ഇവിടെ ഭഗവാന്റെ ശക്തി സർവകാലവും പ്രവർത്തിക്കുന്നതെന്ന് ഉപദേശിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• जीव-आश्रितायाः: of (the power) dependent on the jīva
• जीव-आश्रितायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जीव + आश्रित (श्रि धातु, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, ‘जीवे आश्रिता’ इति सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (locative relation)

• चिद्-शक्तेः: of the consciousness-power (cit-śakti)
• चिद्-शक्तेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिद् + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘चित्’ + ‘शक्ति’ (determinative)

• दौर्बल्यम्: weakness
• दौर्बल्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दौर्बल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• विद्यते: exists / is found
• विद्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु; ‘विद्यते’ = अस्ति-अर्थे)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; भावे प्रयोग (intransitive ‘exists’)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• तत्-निवृत्ति-अर्थम्: for the cessation of that
• तत्-निवृत्ति-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + निवृत्ति + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘तस्य निवृत्त्यर्थम्’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• एव: indeed / only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• शक्तित्वम्: power-ness / the state of being power
• शक्तित्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्तित्व (प्रातिपदिक; शक्ति + त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• सार्वकालिकम्: everlasting / for all times
• सार्वकालिकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सार्वकालिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; शक्तित्वम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakshinamurti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It states that the jīva’s consciousness is intrinsically limited while embodied, and liberation requires the ever-present grace and operation of Shiva’s Śakti to remove that limitation (pāśa), aligning with Shaiva Siddhanta’s Pati (Lord) freeing the paśu (soul).

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

Linga worship focuses the mind on Pati—Shiva as the supreme consciousness—so that the jīva’s weakened awareness is strengthened through devotion and grace; Saguna forms provide an accessible support for realizing the timeless working of Śakti described here.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva with japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and inwardly contemplate Śakti as the ever-active power that removes bondage; this supports steadiness of awareness and purification of limitation.