Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

ते नवांगे उभे ज्ञेये श्रवणादिकभेदतः । सुदुष्करे तत्प्रसादं विना च सुकरे ततः

Transliteration

te navāṃge ubhe jñeye śravaṇādikabhedataḥ | suduṣkare tatprasādaṃ vinā ca sukare tataḥ

Translation

Know that both (paths) are of nine limbs, distinguished by hearing and the other practices. Without His grace they are exceedingly difficult; but by that grace they become easy.

Word by Word

• ते: they/those
• ते: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; Nominative plural pronoun

• नव-अङ्गे: in the ninefold (nine-limbed) [practice]
• नव-अङ्गे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; Locative singular; द्विगु-समास ‘नव अङ्गानि यस्मिन्’ (navāṅga)

• उभे: both (two)
• उभे: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; Nominative dual

• ज्ञेये: are to be known
• ज्ञेये: विधेय (Predicate/obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्/अनीयर्-अर्थे (gerundive), प्रथमा, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्विवचन; ‘to be known’

• श्रवण-आदि-क-भेदतः: according to the distinction of hearing etc.
• श्रवण-आदि-क-भेदतः: हेतु/प्रकार (Reason/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + क (तद्धित) + भेद (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय; ‘भेदतः’ = ‘by/according to distinction’; पूर्वपद-तत्पुरुष ‘श्रवणादिकभेद’

• सु-दुष्करे: in the very difficult (case)
• सु-दुष्करे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + दुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; Locative singular; अव्ययीभाव/उपपद-समास ‘very difficult’

• तत्-प्रसादम्: his/that (Lord’s) grace
• तत्-प्रसादम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular; तत्पुरुष ‘तस्य प्रसादः’

• विना: without
• विना: वियोग/अभाव (Separation/absence marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: उपपद-अव्यय; ‘without’; governs instrumental/accusative in usage

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• सु-करे: in the very easy (case)
• सु-करे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; Locative singular; ‘very easy’

• ततः: therefore
• ततः: हेतु/निगमन (Inference/therefore)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद् + तसिल्)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय; ‘therefore/from that’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that spiritual attainment depends not only on disciplined practice but fundamentally on Shiva’s prasāda (grace). Even complete, “nine-limbed” devotion becomes arduous without grace, while grace makes the same sadhana naturally fruitful.

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

Linga-worship is a Saguna (with-form) support for devotion expressed through hearing, chanting, remembrance, and service. The verse emphasizes that these limbs bear full result when performed with surrender, invoking Shiva’s prasāda through Linga-upāsanā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to bhakti-sadhana beginning with śravaṇa (hearing Shiva’s glories) and allied limbs such as kīrtana (chanting) and smaraṇa (remembrance). Practically, this aligns with daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and attentive listening to Shiva Purana kathā to invite Shiva’s grace.