Shloka 111

बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

प्रक्षिपेन्नव रत्नानि नीलादीन्क्रमशस्तथा । कर्मज्ञं च सपत्नीकमाचार्यं वरयेद्बुधः

Transliteration

prakṣipennava ratnāni nīlādīnkramaśastathā | karmajñaṃ ca sapatnīkamācāryaṃ varayedbudhaḥ

Translation

Then he should place the nine gems—beginning with sapphire and the rest—in their proper order. The wise devotee should also choose and appoint an ācārya, skilled in ritual action, together with his wife, so that the worship may be conducted rightly.

Word by Word

• प्रक्षिपेत्: should place/throw in
• प्रक्षिपेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/Imperative sense), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• नव: nine
• नव: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); संख्याविशेषण

• रत्नानि: gems
• रत्नानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• नील-आदीन्: (those) beginning with blue (sapphire etc.)
• नील-आदीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); ‘नीलः आदिः येषाम्’ इति आद्यर्थक-तत्पुरुष (starting with blue etc.)

• क्रमशः: in order, successively
• क्रमशः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रमशस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• तथा: thus, also
• तथा: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), क्रियाविशेषण/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb/also)

• कर्मज्ञम्: one who knows the rites
• कर्मज्ञम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्मज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); ‘कर्मणि ज्ञः’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-तत्पुरुष

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• स-पत्नीकम्: with his wife
• स-पत्नीकम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय-उपसर्गार्थ) + पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक) + -क (तद्धित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहिः—‘पत्नी अस्ति यस्य सः’ (having a wife)

• आचार्यम्: teacher, officiating priest
• आचार्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• वरयेत्: should choose/select
• वरयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु) [वृञ् वरणे]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• बुधः: a wise person
• बुधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes orthodox transmission: selecting a competent ācārya (with spouse) safeguards correct vidhi and thus the efficacy of worship; in Siddhānta, right ritual under right guidance is a channel for Śiva’s anugraha to the paśu.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined, orderly worship of Lord Shiva (Pati) through sanctified offerings and guidance from a competent ācārya, so that devotion (bhakti) is expressed through correct sacred action (kriyā) leading toward purification and grace.

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

The verse belongs to procedural Linga worship where Saguna Shiva is approached through consecrated symbols—gems and ritual order—so the devotee’s mind becomes steady and reverent while honoring Shiva’s manifest presence in the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A structured Linga-pūjā: offer the navaratna in proper sequence and perform the rite under an experienced ācārya (traditionally with his wife participating in household-rite completeness), maintaining focused devotion and mantra-recitation as directed.