Shloka 2
बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्
Bondage and Liberation: The Prakṛti–Karma Wheel and Śiva as the Transcendent Cause
प्रकृत्याद्यष्टबंधेन बद्धो जीवः स उच्यते । प्रकृत्याद्यष्टबंधेन निर्मुक्तो मुक्त उच्यते
prakṛtyādyaṣṭabaṃdhena baddho jīvaḥ sa ucyate | prakṛtyādyaṣṭabaṃdhena nirmukto mukta ucyate
The individual soul (jīva) is called “bound” when it is fettered by the eight bonds beginning with Prakṛti. When it is wholly freed from those same eight bonds beginning with Prakṛti, it is called “liberated” (mukta).
Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pasha
FAQs
It defines bondage and liberation in Shaiva terms: the jīva is ‘bound’ when conditioned by Prakṛti and related fetters, and ‘liberated’ when these constraints are removed, allowing the soul to abide in Shiva’s grace and true awareness.
Linga worship and devotion to Saguna Shiva purify the jīva from identification with Prakṛti and its limitations; through Shiva’s anugraha (grace), the bonds are loosened and finally cut, leading toward mukti.
A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Linga-pūjā, supported by Shaiva disciplines like wearing Rudraksha and applying Tripundra (bhasma) as aids for detachment from Prakṛti-bound identity.