Shloka 16

Mukti-bheda-nirūpaṇa (Classification of Liberation) and Śiva as the Sole Bestower of Mokṣa

Devanagari script

तत्प्राप्तिश्च भवेदत्र शिवज्ञानोदयाद्ध्रुवम् । भजनाद्वा शिवस्यैव सूक्ष्ममत्या सतां द्विजाः

Transliteration

tatprāptiśca bhavedatra śivajñānodayāddhruvam | bhajanādvā śivasyaiva sūkṣmamatyā satāṃ dvijāḥ

Translation

يا ذوي الميلادين (dvija) من أهل السلوك الصالح، إن نيل «ذلك» هنا يتحقق يقينًا بطلوع معرفة شيفا؛ أو يُنال أيضًا بعبادة شيفا وحده عبادةً خالصة، تُؤدَّى بفهمٍ لطيف وبصيرةٍ مميِّزة.

Word by Word

• tat-prāptiḥ: attainment of that
• tat-prāptiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + prāpti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तस्य प्राप्तिः = attainment of that); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• bhavet: would occur/comes to be
• bhavet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: 'here/in this context')

• śiva-jñāna-udayāt: from the arising of knowledge of Śiva
• śiva-jñāna-udayāt: Hetu (हेतुः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + udaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-श्रृंखला (शिवस्य ज्ञानस्य उदयः); पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (cause)

• dhruvam: certainly
• dhruvam: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोगः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अवश्यंभावार्थे (certainly)

• bhajanāt: from worship
• bhajanāt: Hetu (हेतुः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhajana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: 'or')

• śivasya: of Śiva
• śivasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• eva: alone/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय

• sūkṣma-matyā: with subtle understanding
• sūkṣma-matyā: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūkṣma (प्रातिपदिक) + mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (सूक्ष्मा मतिः = subtle intellect); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• satām: of the good/virtuous
• satām: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• dvijāḥ: O twice-born (brāhmaṇas)
• dvijāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे अपि प्रयोगः (addressing)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation (Śiva-attainment) is assured either through the awakening of true knowledge of Śiva (jñāna) or through single-minded devotion to Śiva (bhakti) supported by refined discernment.

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

The verse affirms bhajana (devotional worship) as a direct means of attainment; in Śaiva practice this commonly takes the form of saguna worship such as Liṅga-pūjā, which purifies the mind and ripens it toward Śiva-knowledge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to steady Śiva-bhajana with subtle awareness—practically expressed as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) alongside focused meditation on Śiva and disciplined worship.