Shloka 23

Śiva-jñāna and the Non-dual Vision of a Śiva-maya Universe (शिवज्ञानम्—सर्वं शिवमयम्)

Devanagari script

साहंकारस्तथा जीवस्तन्मुक्तः शंकरः स्वयम् । जीवस्तुच्छः कर्मभोगो निर्लिप्तः शंकरो महान्

Transliteration

sāhaṃkārastathā jīvastanmuktaḥ śaṃkaraḥ svayam | jīvastucchaḥ karmabhogo nirliptaḥ śaṃkaro mahān

Translation

The individual soul (jīva) is bound up with ego (ahaṅkāra); but the One who is free from that bondage is Śaṅkara Himself. The jīva is petty, compelled to undergo the fruits of karma, whereas the great Śaṅkara remains untouched by karma and ever transcendent.

Word by Word

• स: he/that (one)
• स: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अहंकारः: ego-sense
• अहंकारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहंकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (thus/likewise)

• जीवः: individual soul
• जीवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तत्: from that
• तत्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; ‘तस्मात्’ अर्थे (ablatival sense: from that)

• मुक्तः: liberated
• मुक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुच् (धातु) → मुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/अव्यय (reflexive emphatic: oneself)

• जीवः: the jīva
• जीवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तुच्छः: insignificant, petty
• तुच्छः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुच्छ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• कर्मभोगः: experiencer/enjoyment of karma
• कर्मभोगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म + भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कर्म-भोग = ‘enjoyment/experience of karma’)

• निर्लिप्तः: untainted
• निर्लिप्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लिप् (धातु) → लिप्त (कृदन्त) with निः- (उपसर्ग/निपात)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद/उपसर्ग: निः-/निर्ः (free from); विशेषणम्

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महान्: great
• महान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; प्रातिपदिक: महत् (irregular stem)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Jiva

FAQs

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

It distinguishes the bound jīva—limited by ego and forced to experience karma—from Śiva (Śaṅkara), who is eternally free and unstained. The verse points to moksha as release from ahaṅkāra and karmic bondage through turning toward Pati (Śiva).

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

Linga-worship trains the devotee to shift identity from the ego-bound jīva to devotion to Śiva, the nirlipta Lord. By worshipping Saguna Śiva in the Linga, one gains grace and inner purification, which dissolves ahaṅkāra and loosens karmic bonds.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with bhāva of surrender, and offer water/bilva to the Linga as a discipline against ego. Daily Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa dhāraṇa can be taken as reminders to remain detached from karmic identifications.