Shloka 2

Mukti-bheda-nirūpaṇa (Classification of Liberation) and Śiva as the Sole Bestower of Mokṣa

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच । मुक्तिश्चतुर्विधा प्रोक्ता श्रूयतां कथयामि वः । संसारक्लेशसंहर्त्री परमानन्ददायिनी

Transliteration

sūta uvāca | muktiścaturvidhā proktā śrūyatāṃ kathayāmi vaḥ | saṃsārakleśasaṃhartrī paramānandadāyinī

Translation

Sūta said: “Liberation (mukti) has been declared to be fourfold. Listen—I shall explain it to you. It is that which destroys the afflictions of saṃsāra and bestows the supreme bliss.”

Word by Word

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (sg.)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद

• मुक्तिः: liberation
• मुक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन (sg.)

• चतुर्विधा: fourfold
• चतुर्विधा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्-विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन (sg.); समासः तत्पुरुषः (चतुर्णां विधः)

• प्रोक्ता: has been declared
• प्रोक्ता: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa / Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रोक्त (√वच् धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन (sg.)

• श्रूयताम्: let it be heard
• श्रूयताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg.), आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense): 'let it be heard'

• कथयामि: I tell
• कथयामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कथय् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद

• वः: to you (all)
• वः: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (Gen./Dat.), बहुवचन (pl.), सर्वनाम; 'to you/of you' (contextual)

• संसारक्लेशसंहर्त्री: destroyer of worldly afflictions
• संसारक्लेशसंहर्त्री: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संसार-क्लेश-संहर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन (sg.); समासः तत्पुरुषः (संसारक्लेशानां संहर्त्री)

• परमानन्ददायिनी: giver of supreme bliss
• परमानन्ददायिनी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम-आनन्द-दायिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन (sg.); समासः तत्पुरुषः (परमानन्दं ददाति इति)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

FAQs

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

This verse frames mukti as Shiva-oriented liberation: freedom from saṃsāra’s kleshas and the attainment of paramānanda, pointing to Shiva as the ultimate bestower of release and bliss.

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

By defining mukti as the removal of worldly bondage and the gift of supreme bliss, it supports the Purana’s teaching that devotion to Shiva—commonly through Linga worship as Saguna Shiva—leads the devotee toward liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse introduces the topic rather than prescribing a specific rite; as a practical takeaway, Shaiva practice typically aligns this teaching with steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and regular Shiva worship aimed at freedom from saṃsāra.