Shloka 17

दशशैवव्रतप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the Ten Principal Śaiva Vratas

Devanagari script

मुक्तिमार्गप्रवीणैश्च कर्तव्यं नियमादिति । मुक्तेस्तु प्रापकं चैव चतुष्टयमुदाहृतम्

Transliteration

muktimārgapravīṇaiśca kartavyaṃ niyamāditi | muktestu prāpakaṃ caiva catuṣṭayamudāhṛtam

Translation

إن العارفين بطريق الخلاص يقررون أنه ينبغي سلوكه مع الانضباط ومراعاة النِّياما. وقد بيّنوا حقًّا وسيلةً رباعية تُفضي إلى الموكشا—حريةٌ تُنال عبر الطريق القائم على نعمة شيفا.

Word by Word

• मुक्तिमार्गप्रवीणैः: by those skilled in the path of liberation
• मुक्तिमार्गप्रवीणैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्ति-मार्ग-प्रवीण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; समासः (मुक्तेः मार्गः) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः + तत्पुरुषः (मुक्तिमार्गे प्रवीणः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• कर्तव्यम्: to be done/should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; कर्तव्य (gerundive/future passive participle), विधेय (to be done)

• नियमात्: by rule/according to discipline
• नियमात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (as cause/ground)

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyārtha (वाक्यार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उद्धरण/समाप्ति-सूचक (quotative)

• मुक्तेः: of liberation
• मुक्तेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/विशेष (adversative/contrast particle)

• प्रापकम्: means of attaining
• प्रापकम्: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रापक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; साधनार्थक-विशेषण (that which causes attainment)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphasis)

• चतुष्टयम्: a set of four
• चतुष्टयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुष्टय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन

• उदाहृतम्: has been declared
• उदाहृतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-आ-हृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle): "has been stated/declared"

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site-specific legend here; the verse frames mokṣa as attained through disciplined sādhana and Śiva’s grace, a general Koṭirudra teaching.

Significance: Establishes that liberation is approached through niyama (regulated observance) and a defined set of means; emphasizes grace-oriented Śaiva soteriology.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It stresses that liberation is not accidental: the wise prescribe a disciplined, rule-guided sadhana and point to a fourfold means that matures the soul toward Shiva’s liberating grace (pati-anugraha), consistent with Shaiva Siddhanta.

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

By emphasizing niyama (regulated observance), it supports structured Saguna Shiva worship—Linga devotion, mantra-japa, purity, and vows—through which the mind becomes fit for Shiva’s grace, the decisive factor in moksha.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A rule-based daily practice is implied: steady japa of Shiva-mantras (especially the Panchakshara), along with vow-keeping and purity observances; in Kotirudra contexts this commonly aligns with Jyotirlinga devotion supported by rudraksha and bhasma disciplines.