Shloka 49

बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्

Bondage and Liberation: The Prakṛti–Karma Wheel and Śiva as the Transcendent Cause

Devanagari script

स्वर्णलिंगं तु वैश्यानां महाधनपतित्वदम् । शिलालिंगं तु शूद्रा णां महाशुद्धिकरं शुभम्

Transliteration

svarṇaliṃgaṃ tu vaiśyānāṃ mahādhanapatitvadam | śilāliṃgaṃ tu śūdrā ṇāṃ mahāśuddhikaraṃ śubham

Translation

Für Vaiśyas verleiht ein goldenes Liṅga großen Reichtum und Herrschaft über Besitz. Für Śūdras ist ein steinernes Liṅga glückverheißend und bewirkt große Reinigung.

Word by Word

• स्वर्णलिंगम्: the golden liṅga
• स्वर्णलिंगम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + लिंग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘स्वर्णस्य लिंगम्’

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (but/indeed)

• वैश्यानाम्: of Vaiśyas
• वैश्यानाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• महाधनपतित्वदम्: granting lordship over great wealth
• महाधनपतित्वदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + धन (प्रातिपदिक) + पतित्व (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—‘महाधन’ (कर्मधारयः—great wealth) + ‘पतित्व’ (lordship) → ‘महाधनपतित्व’ (तत्पुरुष) + ‘द’ (giver) → षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘महाधनपतित्वस्य दः’

• शिलालिंगम्: the stone liṅga
• शिलालिंगम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिला (प्रातिपदिक) + लिंग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘शिलायाः/शिलायाः लिंगम्’ (stone liṅga)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात

• शूद्राणाम्: of Śūdras
• शूद्राणाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• महाशुद्धिकरम्: causing great purification
• महाशुद्धिकरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + शुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—‘महाशुद्धि’ (कर्मधारयः—great purification) + ‘कर’ → षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘महाशुद्धेः करः’ (causing great purification)

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating the Shiva Purana teaching on liṅga-worship to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Vāmadeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion to Śiva through liṅga-pūjā yields fitting fruits—outer prosperity for household life and inner purification that supports dharma and gradual liberation under Śiva’s grace.

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

The Liṅga is Saguna worship—Śiva approached through a sacred form. The verse highlights that different materials used for the Liṅga can be linked with distinct results, while the core efficacy remains Śiva’s presence and the devotee’s bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform regular liṅga-pūjā with reverence—abhiṣeka (water/milk as appropriate), offering bilva leaves, and japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” seeking purification and Śiva’s blessings.