Shloka 51

बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

स्त्रीणां तु पार्थिवं लिंगं सभर्तृणां विशेषतः । विधवानां प्रवृत्तानां स्फाटिकं परिकीर्तितम्

Transliteration

strīṇāṃ tu pārthivaṃ liṃgaṃ sabhartṛṇāṃ viśeṣataḥ | vidhavānāṃ pravṛttānāṃ sphāṭikaṃ parikīrtitam

Translation

For women, the Śiva-liṅga of earth (clay) is prescribed—especially for those who dwell with their husbands; but for widows devoted to dharmic observance, the crystal (sphāṭika) liṅga is declared to be fitting.

Word by Word

• स्त्रीणाम्: of women
• स्त्रीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेषणार्थक/विरोधार्थक-निपात

• पार्थिवम्: earthen, made of clay
• पार्थिवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; adjective

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• सभर्तृणाम्: of those having husbands
• सभर्तृणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स + भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (स-भर्तृ = having a husband)

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• विधवानाम्: of widows
• विधवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• प्रवृत्तानाम्: of those engaged/active
• प्रवृत्तानाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + √वृत् (वृत्) (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), बहुवचन, षष्ठी (6); पुं/नपुंसक-समासानुसार; here genitive plural qualifying vidhavānām

• स्फाटिकम्: crystal (liṅga)
• स्फाटिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्फाटिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; used as substantive

• परिकीर्तितम्: is declared/mentioned
• परिकीर्तितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + √कीर्त् (कीर्त्) (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मणि भावे—‘is declared/mentioned’ (elliptic copula)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Domestic liṅga-pūjā as a household sādhana: earthen liṅga supports accessible daily worship; crystal liṅga supports sustained, pure observance for those in vrata-niyama.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that Śiva accepts devotion expressed through appropriate, sattvic means: simple clay embodies humility and accessibility, while crystal signifies steadiness and purity for those committed to sustained observance—both directing the mind toward Pati (Śiva) as the liberator.

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

It affirms Saguna worship through the liṅga as a sanctioned support for meditation and devotion; the material is chosen to match the worshipper’s life-situation and discipline, emphasizing right practice (ācāra) alongside bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform liṅga-pūjā with a suitable liṅga (clay or sphāṭika), offering water and simple upacāras while repeating the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with a steady, pure intention.