Shloka 11
बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्
Bondage and Liberation: The Prakṛti–Karma Wheel and Śiva as the Transcendent Cause
शिवस्तथा प्रकृत्यादि वशीकृत्याधितिष्ठति । सर्वं वशीकृतं यस्मात्तस्माच्छिव इति स्मृतः । शिव एव हि सर्वज्ञः परिपूर्णश्च निःस्पृहः
śivastathā prakṛtyādi vaśīkṛtyādhitiṣṭhati | sarvaṃ vaśīkṛtaṃ yasmāttasmācchiva iti smṛtaḥ | śiva eva hi sarvajñaḥ paripūrṇaśca niḥspṛhaḥ
Shiva, having brought Prakriti and all that arises from it under His mastery, presides over them. Because everything is thus subdued and governed by Him, He is remembered as “Shiva.” Indeed, Shiva alone is omniscient—perfectly complete and wholly desireless.
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s supreme nature to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara
Sthala Purana: Śiva as the master who subdues prakṛti and all evolutes aligns with Mahākāla’s sovereignty over time and the cosmos; the name ‘Śiva’ is grounded in His auspicious lordship and control over all that binds.
Significance: Worship of Mahākāla/Śiva as niḥspṛha and sarvajña is sought for fearlessness, mastery over worldly compulsions, and orientation toward liberation.
Type: stotra
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It establishes Shiva as the Supreme Pati: He transcends Prakriti and its evolutes yet governs them, and His omniscience and desirelessness indicate the liberated, complete reality that grants moksha to bound souls.
The Linga is worshipped as the visible sign of the transcendent Lord who rules all tattvas; by worshipping Saguna Shiva in the Linga, the devotee approaches the Nirguna, all-complete Shiva described here.
Practice japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with the contemplation that Shiva is the inner ruler of mind and nature; cultivate niḥspṛhatā (desirelessness) as the devotional fruit of worship.