Upanishads · Bhāvanā p6
॥
Devanāgarī
षडृतवः क्रियाशक्तिः पीठम् । कुण्डलिनी ज्ञानशक्तिर्गृहम्
Transliteration (IAST)
ṣaḍṛtavaḥ kriyāśaktiḥ pīṭham | kuṇḍalinī jñānaśaktirgṛham
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
षट् ऋतवः क्रिया-शक्तिः पीठम्ṣaṭ ṛtavaḥ kriyā-śaktiḥ pīṭhamthe six seasons, the power of action — the throne
कुण्डलिनी ज्ञान-शक्तिः गृहम्kuṇḍalinī jñāna-śaktiḥ gṛhamKuṇḍalinī, the power of knowledge — the house
Translation
The six seasons, the power of action — the throne; Kuṇḍalinī, the power of knowledge — the house.
Version
d44e9050b6e2 · published Aug 12, 2026, 5:00:00 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Two of the three powers constantly enumerated in these books are named: kriyā-śakti, "the power of action," and jñāna-śakti, "the power of knowledge"; the third, icchā-śakti, "the power of will," will be named in the next line. This triad deserves examination, for it is, in essence, the analysis of any act. Before doing anything, a person wants it, then knows how it is done, then does it. Remove any of the three, and the deed will not occur: one who wants but does not know is helpless; one who knows but does not want will not move; one who wants and knows but does not act remains at intention.
This analysis in Vaiṣṇava theology is applied to Him and forms one of its foundational positions there. The Vedānta-sūtra speaks of Him as having vicitra-śakti, "manifold power," and the Śvetāśvatara, in famous words: "His supreme power is heard of as manifold, and it is inherent, [consisting of] knowledge, strength, and action" (6.8). This verse is cited by all commentators and disputed by all; but the formula itself — "knowledge, power, action" — is accepted by everyone, and here it stands in a śākta book in almost the same words.
This agreement is no accident, and the conclusion from it is simple: wherever will, knowledge, and action are enumerated, an agent is being spoken of. Neither an emptiness nor a qualityless principle ever has these three.