Shloka 71

Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā

Devanagari script

तदर्वाक्पाशबंधो हि तदूर्ध्वं न हि बंधनम् । तदर्वाक्परिवर्तंते काम्यकर्मानुसारिणः

Transliteration

tadarvākpāśabaṃdho hi tadūrdhvaṃ na hi baṃdhanam | tadarvākparivartaṃte kāmyakarmānusāriṇaḥ

Translation

دون تلك المرتبة العليا يكون القيدُ حقًّا برباط الأسر؛ وفوقها لا يكون قيدٌ أبدًا. والذين يتّبعون الطقوس والأعمال التي تسوقها الشهوة لا يدورون إلا دونها.

Word by Word

• तद्-अर्वाक्-पाश-बंधः: bondage (the noose) below that level
• तद्-अर्वाक्-पाश-बंधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्वाक् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + पाश (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: तद्-अर्वाक् (below that) इति उपपदपूर्वकः, पाशस्य बन्धः (bondage of the noose)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (indeed/for)

• तद्-ऊर्ध्वम्: above that
• तद्-ऊर्ध्वम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial): 'above that'

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (indeed)

• बंधनम्: bondage
• बंधनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तद्-अर्वाक्: below that
• तद्-अर्वाक्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्वाक् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् (adverb): 'below that'

• परिवर्तन्ते: they revolve/return
• परिवर्तन्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• काम्य-कर्म-अनुसारिणः: followers of desire-driven actions
• काम्य-कर्म-अनुसारिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम्य (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुसारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: काम्यं कर्म (desire-motivated act) तस्य अनुसारिणः (followers)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site-specific Jyotirliṅga passage; it teaches the vertical hierarchy of bondage vs. freedom: kāmya-karma keeps the soul revolving below the liberating threshold.

Significance: Frames pilgrimage/ritual as fruitful only when it weakens pāśa (bondage) rather than intensifying desire; encourages niṣkāma orientation toward Śiva.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It distinguishes the realm of bondage (pāśa) from the higher state of freedom: attachment to fruit-seeking actions keeps the soul revolving in saṃsāra, while transcending desire leads beyond bondage toward Shiva-realization.

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

Linga-worship, when done as devotion and surrender rather than as a bargain for results, purifies desire and loosens pāśa; the verse warns that worship driven mainly by worldly boons remains within the lower cycle of return.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Shift from kāmya (result-oriented) rites to niṣkāma bhakti: steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and contemplative remembrance of Shiva as Pati, offered without craving for fruits.