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

O twice-born ones of saintly conduct, the attainment of That here surely arises from the dawning of the knowledge of Śiva; or else it is attained through devoted worship of Śiva alone, performed with subtle and discerning understanding.

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.