Shloka 98

बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

अज्ञानमोचनं साध्यं विशेषज्ञो हि मोचकः । आदौ च विघ्नशमनं कर्तव्यं कर्म पूर्तये

Transliteration

ajñānamocanaṃ sādhyaṃ viśeṣajño hi mocakaḥ | ādau ca vighnaśamanaṃ kartavyaṃ karma pūrtaye

Translation

Die Aufhebung der Unwissenheit ist das Ziel; wahrlich, wer die Methode wirklich kennt, ist der Befreier. Darum ist gleich zu Beginn die Besänftigung der Hindernisse zu vollziehen, damit das Ritual zur Vollendung gelangt.

Word by Word

• अज्ञानमोचनम्: removal of ignorance
• अज्ञानमोचनम्: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + मोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अज्ञानस्य मोचनम्)

• साध्यम्: to be accomplished
• साध्यम्: Karta (कर्ता-समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साध्य (कृदन्त; यत्-प्रत्यय/भाव्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative) ‘to be accomplished’

• विशेषज्ञः: the expert (person)
• विशेषज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘expert’

• हि: for, indeed
• हि: None (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/अव्यय; reason/emphasis

• मोचकः: remover, liberator
• मोचकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• आदौ: at the beginning
• आदौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘in the beginning’

• च: and
• च: None (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विघ्नशमनम्: pacification/removal of obstacles
• विघ्नशमनम्: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विघ्न (प्रातिपदिक) + शमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विघ्नस्य शमनम्)

• कर्तव्यम्: must be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Karta (कर्ता-समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कर्तव्य (कृदन्त; तव्यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive) ‘must be done’

• कर्म: the rite, action
• कर्म: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘the rite/action’

• पूर्तये: for completion
• पूर्तये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजन (purpose)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

FAQs

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

It frames liberation as the removal of ajñāna (ignorance) and teaches that right knowledge and proper guidance are essential; spiritual practice succeeds when obstacles—inner and outer—are first pacified.

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

In Linga-worship, the outer rite is meant to mature into inner clarity; beginning with obstacle-removal safeguards the continuity of worship so devotion to Saguna Shiva can culminate in the dawning of knowledge that dispels ignorance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Begin Shiva worship with vighna-śamana—traditionally invoking Gaṇeśa or offering a brief obstacle-removing prayer—then proceed with mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) so the practice reaches completion.