Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 14

शक्तितत्त्ववर्णनम् / Exposition of the Principle of Śakti

Devanagari script

कालस्य भावो नियतिर्यदृच्छा नात्र युज्यते । भूतानि योनिः पुरुषो योगी चैषां परो ऽथ वा

Transliteration

kālasya bhāvo niyatiryadṛcchā nātra yujyate | bhūtāni yoniḥ puruṣo yogī caiṣāṃ paro 'tha vā

Translation

在此，单以“时间之作用”、命运或偶然，都不足以作为究竟因。诸显现众生、原初自然（Prakṛti，万相之胎）、个体灵魂（Puruṣa），乃至被称为超越其上的瑜伽行者——这一切都非自体究竟（唯有至上主、湿婆，才是超越的真实）。

Word by Word

• कालस्य: of time
• कालस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन

• भावः: existence/state/nature
• भावः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नियतिः: destiny/necessity
• नियतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यदृच्छा: chance/accident
• यदृच्छा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यदृच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• अत्र: here/in this (context)
• अत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb: here/in this matter)

• युज्यते: is applicable/fits
• युज्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (is applicable/fits)

• भूतानि: beings/elements
• भूतानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• योनिः: source/womb
• योनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पुरुषः: person/Puruṣa
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• योगी: yogin
• योगी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• एषाम्: of these/of them
• एषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), बहुवचन

• परः: higher/supreme
• परः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying implied subject)

• अथ: then/else
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तर/विकल्पार्थक (then/else)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक निपात (or)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It denies that time, fate (niyati), or randomness are the final explanation of existence, and points toward Shiva (Pati) as the truly transcendent ground—beyond beings, prakriti (yoni), the individual purusha, and even exalted yogic states.

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

Linga-worship trains the mind to see Shiva as the Supreme beyond all categories (time, causality, nature, soul). Saguna devotion to the Linga leads the devotee toward realization of Shiva’s transcendence over prakriti and purusha.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as Kāla-atikrānta (beyond time) while repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” supporting practice with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha to cultivate detachment from fate-and-chance thinking and rest in the Lord as the highest refuge.