Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

तस्माद्भक्तिर्महेशस्य साधनीया मुनीश्वराः । तयैव निखिलं सिद्धं भविष्यति न संशयः

Transliteration

tasmādbhaktirmaheśasya sādhanīyā munīśvarāḥ | tayaiva nikhilaṃ siddhaṃ bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ

Translation

Therefore, O best of sages, devotion to Mahesha must be earnestly cultivated; by that devotion alone, everything becomes accomplished—of this there is no doubt.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भक्तिः: devotion
• भक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• महेशस्य: of Maheśa (Śiva)
• महेशस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• साधनीया: to be practiced/cultivated
• साधनीया: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साधनीय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; साध् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण; कृत्य-प्रत्यय (णीयत्) = ‘to be practiced/should be cultivated’

• मुनीश्वराः: O lords of sages
• मुनीश्वराः: Sambodhyāḥ/Āmantrita (सम्बोध्य/आमन्त्रित)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मुनीनां ईश्वराः = lords among sages)

• तया: by that (devotion)
• तया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed/alone
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय

• निखिलम्: entire/all
• निखिलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; ‘सिद्धम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• सिद्धम्: accomplished/fulfilled
• सिद्धम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; सिध् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• भविष्यति: will be/will happen
• भविष्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• न: no/not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: General: Śiva-bhakti is declared as all-accomplishing (sarva-siddhi-pradā) and a direct means to grace and liberation.

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that Śiva-bhakti is the direct and sufficient means to spiritual fulfillment: when devotion to Pati (Lord Śiva) is established, the seeker’s aims—purification, grace, and liberation—naturally become accomplished.

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

In Kotirudrasaṃhitā, devotion is commonly embodied through saguna upāsanā—especially Liṅga worship and Jyotirliṅga pilgrimage—where love, surrender, and reverent service become the practical form of connecting with Mahesha.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to sustained bhakti-sādhana such as daily Liṅga-pūjā, japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), and disciplined observances like Mahāśivarātri vrata as concrete ways to cultivate devotion.