Shloka 7

Umāyāḥ Kriyāyoga-Rahasya

The Esoteric Teaching on Umā’s Kriyāyoga

Devanagari script

ज्ञानयोगः क्रियायोगो भक्तियोगस्तथैव च । त्रयो मार्गास्समाख्याताः श्रीमातुर्मुक्तिमुक्तिदा

Transliteration

jñānayogaḥ kriyāyogo bhaktiyogastathaiva ca | trayo mārgāssamākhyātāḥ śrīmāturmuktimuktidā

Translation

The Yoga of Knowledge, the Yoga of Sacred Action, and likewise the Yoga of Devotion—these three paths are declared; through the grace of Śrī Mother Umā they bestow liberation and the freedom that is liberation.

Word by Word

• ज्ञानयोगः: the path of knowledge
• ज्ञानयोगः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (ज्ञानस्य योगः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• क्रियायोगः: the path of action
• क्रियायोगः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (क्रियायाः योगः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भक्तियोगः: the path of devotion
• भक्तियोगः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (भक्तेः योगः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: 'thus/so')

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• त्रयः: three
• त्रयः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण

• मार्गाः: paths
• मार्गाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• समाख्याताः: are declared / are taught
• समाख्याताः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + ख्या (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग

• श्रीमातुः: of the revered Mother (Śrī-mātā)
• श्रीमातुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (श्रियाः माता), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• मुक्तिमुक्तिदाः: granting liberation (again and again / complete liberation)
• मुक्तिमुक्तिदाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (मुक्तिं मुक्तिं ददाति इति), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (मार्गाः इत्यस्य)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Umāsaṃhitā teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a specific jyotirliṅga episode; the verse frames liberation as arising through Devī’s grace and the tri-mārga discipline.

Significance: General tīrtha-idea: pilgrimage is fulfilled when it matures into jñāna, kriyā (pūjā), and bhakti under Umā-Śiva’s anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It affirms that liberation in Shaiva teaching is accessible through three complementary disciplines—knowledge, sacred practice, and devotion—ultimately fulfilled by the Mother’s grace that leads the soul (paśu) beyond bondage (pāśa) to the Lord (Pati).

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

Kriyā-yoga and bhakti-yoga naturally express themselves as Saguna worship—Linga-pūjā, mantra-japa, and reverent service—through which the mind is purified; that purity matures into jñāna-yoga, culminating in realization of Shiva’s supreme nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It supports a balanced sādhana: daily Shiva worship (especially Linga-pūjā), japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and disciplined observances (e.g., bhasma/Tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa) as kriyā, sustained by heartfelt bhakti.