Shloka 126

बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

आज्यावेक्षणदानं च कुर्याद्व्याधिनिवृत्तये । सहस्रं भोजयेद्विप्रान्दरिद्र ः शतमेव वा

Transliteration

ājyāvekṣaṇadānaṃ ca kuryādvyādhinivṛttaye | sahasraṃ bhojayedviprāndaridra ḥ śatameva vā

Translation

For the cessation of illness, one should perform the charitable offering connected with ājya (ghee) and its ritual observance. One should feed a thousand brāhmaṇas; or, if one is poor, even a hundred will suffice.

Word by Word

• आज्य-आवेक्षण-दानम्: gift of ājya-āvekṣaṇa (ghee-related rite)
• आज्य-आवेक्षण-दानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आवेक्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘आज्यस्य आवेक्षणस्य दानम्’ (gift connected with ghee-offering/inspection)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• व्याधि-निवृत्तये: for cessation of disease
• व्याधि-निवृत्तये: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याधि (प्रातिपदिक) + निवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (निवृत्ति), चतुर्थी (प्रयोजन), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘व्याधेः निवृत्तये’

• सहस्रम्: a thousand (persons)
• सहस्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; numeral used as object (a thousand)

• भोजयेत्: should feed
• भोजयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु) [णिच् causative: भोजय-]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative) = ‘cause to eat/feed’

• विप्रान्: Brahmins
• विप्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

• दरिद्रः: a poor man
• दरिद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दरिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; numeral used as object (a hundred)

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Vaidyanātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Vaidyanātha

Sthala Purana: Vaidyanātha (‘Lord as Physician’) is invoked thematically by the verse’s focus on vyādhi-nivṛtti (cessation of disease). The jyotirliṅga is famed for healing grace and restoration of wholeness through Śiva’s anugraha.

Significance: Sought for relief from illness, strengthening of life-force, and removal of बाधा through devotion, charity, and disciplined observance.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that illness is eased not only by ritual, but by merit (puṇya) gained through disciplined offering and compassionate giving—acts that soften karmic obstructions under Shiva’s grace.

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

In Saguna Shiva worship, offerings like ghee and acts of annadāna are extensions of Linga-sevā: devotion becomes tangible service, inviting Shiva’s anugraha (grace) for healing and purification.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A ghee-related ritual offering/observance (ājya) along with annadāna—feeding brāhmaṇas according to one’s capacity (a thousand, or a hundred if poor)—as a practical vow aligned with Shiva-bhakti.