Shloka 44

बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

लिंगं नाभिस्तथा जिह्वा नासाग्रञ्च शिखा क्रमात् । कट्यादिषु त्रिलोकेषु लिंगमाध्यात्मिकं चरम्

Transliteration

liṃgaṃ nābhistathā jihvā nāsāgrañca śikhā kramāt | kaṭyādiṣu trilokeṣu liṃgamādhyātmikaṃ caram

Translation

In the inner body, the Liṅga is understood in sequence as the navel, the tongue, the tip of the nose, and the crown of the head. Thus, within the three worlds experienced in one’s own being (from the waist upward and in the other bodily centers), the inner, spiritual Liṅga is the living, moving principle to be realized.

Word by Word

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नाभिः: navel
• नाभिः: Karma-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्मसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), ‘likewise’

• जिह्वा: tongue
• जिह्वा: Karma-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्मसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन

• नासाग्रम्: tip of the nose
• नासाग्रम्: Karma-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्मसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नासा-अग्र (प्रातिपदिक; नासा + अग्र)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘नासायाः अग्रं’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• शिखा: topknot / crest
• शिखा: Karma-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्मसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन

• क्रमात्: in sequence
• क्रमात्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त: ‘in order/ क्रमशः’

• कट्यादिषु: in the waist etc. (regions)
• कट्यादिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कटि-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; कटि + आदि)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (आदि-समास/‘X etc.’): ‘कटिः आदि यस्मिन्/येषु’; पुं/नपुंसक-प्रयोगे लोके; सप्तमी (Loc), बहुवचन

• त्रिलोकेषु: in the three worlds
• त्रिलोकेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि-लोक (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + लोक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (numeral compound): ‘त्रयः लोकाः’; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Loc), बहुवचन

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आध्यात्मिकम्: spiritual (adhyātmika)
• आध्यात्मिकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आध्यात्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘spiritual/pertaining to the self’

• चरम्: movable
• चरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The text interiorizes the liṅga: bodily loci (nābhi, jihvā, nāsāgra, śikhā) become contemplative ‘stations’ for realizing the living, moving ādhyātmika-liṅga—shifting emphasis from external object to inner realization.

Significance: Frames the body as a kṣetra for Śiva-upāsanā; supports dhyāna-oriented pilgrimage where outer darśana culminates in inner liṅga-sākṣātkāra.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Liṅga is not only an external object of worship but also an inner reality—Śiva’s presence to be contemplated through successive inner centers, leading the seeker from bodily awareness toward higher realization.

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

External Liṅga worship (saguṇa-upāsanā) is supported by an inner counterpart: meditating on Śiva as the living Liṅga within. The verse links temple worship to yogic inwardness, making devotion mature into direct inner experience.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A meditative practice of internalized Liṅga-dhyāna: steadying attention and progressing inward/upward (navel, tongue, nose-tip, crown), often supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and disciplined breath-awareness.