Shloka 108

बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्

Bondage and Liberation: The Prakṛti–Karma Wheel and Śiva as the Transcendent Cause

Devanagari script

भारमात्रव्रीहिधान्यं प्रस्थाप्य परिसृत्य च । मध्ये विलिख्यकमलं तथा दिक्षुविलिख्य वै

Transliteration

bhāramātravrīhidhānyaṃ prasthāpya parisṛtya ca | madhye vilikhyakamalaṃ tathā dikṣuvilikhya vai

Translation

Placing a measured quantity of unhusked rice-grain and arranging it evenly all around, one should draw a lotus in the center, and likewise draw (lotus-markings) in the directions as well.

Word by Word

• भारमात्रव्रीहिधान्यम्: a load-measure of rice-grain
• भारमात्रव्रीहिधान्यम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारमात्र + व्रीहि + धान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘भारमात्रं व्रीहि-धान्यम्’ (rice/grain of only a load-measure)

• प्रस्थाप्य: having set/placed
• प्रस्थाप्य: पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (Absolutive action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having placed/arranged’

• परिसृत्य: having gone around
• परिसृत्य: पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (Absolutive action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + √सृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having gone around/circumambulated’

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (adverbial locative)

• विलिख्य: having drawn
• विलिख्य: पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (Absolutive action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + √लिख् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having drawn/inscribed’

• कमलम्: a lotus (diagram)
• कमलम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise/so)

• दिक्षु: in the directions
• दिक्षु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• विलिख्य: having drawn
• विलिख्य: पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (Absolutive action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + √लिख् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having drawn/inscribed’

• वै: indeed
• वै: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Maṇḍala-making (lotus in center and quarters) ritually orders space, transforming ordinary ground into a consecrated cosmos fit for Śiva’s presence; it supports the devotee’s movement from bondage (pāśa: disorder/impurity) toward clarity.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship begins with ordered sacred space: the lotus-mandala symbolizes purity and awakened consciousness offered to Pati (Shiva), helping the devotee steady mind and intention for devotion and liberation.

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

The verse describes preparatory steps for Linga-puja—creating a consecrated mandala with grains and lotus marks—so Saguna worship becomes focused and ritually complete, supporting inner concentration on Shiva’s presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prepare a rice-grain mandala, draw a lotus at the center (and in the quarters), then proceed with Shiva worship—ideally paired with mantra-japa such as the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while maintaining a calm, centered mind.