Shloka 104

ध्यानयज्ञः, संसार-विष-निरूपणम्, पाशुपतयोगः, परा-अपरा विद्या, चतुर्वस्था-विचारः (अध्यायः ८६)

Devanagari script

ज्ञानम् एवाभ्यसेत् तस्मान् मुक्त्यर्थं ब्रह्मवित्तमाः ज्ञानाभ्यासाद्धि वै पुंसां बुद्धिर्भवति निर्मला

Transliteration

jñānam evābhyaset tasmān muktyarthaṃ brahmavittamāḥ jñānābhyāsāddhi vai puṃsāṃ buddhirbhavati nirmalā

Translation

Darum soll der Beste unter den Brahman-Erkennenden allein das Jñāna um der Befreiung willen üben; denn durch beständige Übung des Wissens wird der Intellekt des Menschen rein und makellos.

Word by Word

• ज्ञानम् (jñānam): spiritual knowledge

• एव (eva): indeed/alone

• अभ्यासेत् (abhyaset): should practice/cultivate

• तस्मात् (tasmāt): therefore

• मुक्त्यर्थम् (muktyartham): for the sake of liberation

• ब्रह्मवित्तमाः (brahmavittamāḥ): the foremost knowers of Brahman (highest truth)

• ज्ञानाभ्यासात् (jñānābhyāsāt): from the practice of knowledge

• हि (hi): indeed

• वै (vai): surely

• पुंसाम् (puṁsām): of persons/men

• बुद्धिः (buddhiḥ): intellect/discriminative understanding

• भवति (bhavati): becomes

• निर्मला (nirmalā): pure/unstained

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching within the Linga Purana’s Shaiva framework)

Characters & Entities

• Brahman

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It teaches that outer worship becomes spiritually fruitful when supported by jñāna-abhyāsa—inner cultivation of true knowledge—because purification of buddhi makes the devotee fit to realize Shiva (Pati) and transcend bondage (pāśa).

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By emphasizing the highest liberating knowledge (brahma-vidyā), it points to Shiva-tattva as the supreme reality to be realized; liberation is framed as the pashu’s release from pasha through purified discernment that culminates in recognition of the Lord (Pati).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Jnana-abhyasa (disciplined contemplation and study leading to buddhi-śuddhi) is highlighted—an inner limb aligned with Pashupata-oriented practice, supporting mantra, dhyāna, and Shiva-pūjā by removing mental impurities.