Shloka 15

बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

लिंगे बेरे भक्तजने शिवमुद्दिश्य पूजयेत् । कायेन मनसा वाचा धनेनापि प्रपूजयेत्

Transliteration

liṃge bere bhaktajane śivamuddiśya pūjayet | kāyena manasā vācā dhanenāpi prapūjayet

Translation

Keeping Śiva in view, one should worship Him in the Liṅga, in His icon (bera), and also in His devotees. One should offer that worship fully—through the body, the mind, speech, and even through one’s wealth.

Word by Word

• लिङ्गे: in/at the liṅga (emblem)
• लिङ्गे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• बेरे: in the image/idol
• बेरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बेर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; (bera = मूर्ति/प्रतिमा in ritual usage)

• भक्तजने: among devotees/people of devotion
• भक्तजने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भक्तानां जनः)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• उद्दिश्य: intending/with reference to
• उद्दिश्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), 'having intended/aimed at'; उपसर्ग: उद्

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कायेन: by the body
• कायेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• मनसा: by the mind
• मनसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• वाचा: by speech
• वाचा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• धनेन: by wealth
• धनेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारार्थक-निपात (also/even)

• प्रपूजयेत्: should worship (earnestly)
• प्रपूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: प्र

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī’s Viśveśvara tradition strongly emphasizes liṅga-worship and service to Śiva-bhaktas; this verse explicitly authorizes worship in liṅga, consecrated icon (bera), and devotees as living loci of Śiva.

Significance: Frames pilgrimage as threefold: shrine worship (liṅga/bera) and sevā to devotees; all become channels of Śiva’s grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches holistic Śiva-bhakti: Śiva is honored not only in sacred forms like the Liṅga and consecrated image, but also in His devotees. In Shaiva Siddhānta, such integrated worship purifies the soul (paśu) and loosens bondage (pāśa) through devotion, service, and right intention toward Pati (Śiva).

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

The verse affirms Saguna worship as valid and complete: the Liṅga and bera are sanctioned supports for devotion, while the presence of Śiva is also to be recognized in His bhaktas. Thus external ritual (arcana) is joined with inner reverence (bhāva) and ethical honoring of devotees.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Liṅga-pūjā with bodily service (abhisheka, offering bilva, cleaning the shrine), mental worship (dhyāna on Śiva), verbal worship (stotra and japa such as “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and wealth-based offerings (naivedya, dāna, supporting temples and devotees).