Shloka 57

बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

पूजां कृत्वाथ तल्लिंगं शिरसा धारयेत्सदा । विभूतिस्त्रिविधा प्रोक्ता लोकवेदशिवाग्निभिः

Transliteration

pūjāṃ kṛtvātha talliṃgaṃ śirasā dhārayetsadā | vibhūtistrividhā proktā lokavedaśivāgnibhiḥ

Translation

Having performed worship, one should ever bear that Liṅga upon one’s head with reverence. Vibhūti, the sacred ash, is declared to be of three kinds—according to worldly usage, Vedic ordinance, and the fire consecrated to Śiva.

Word by Word

• pūjām: worship
• pūjām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive)

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक/क्रमसूचक (then)

• tat-liṅgam: that liṅga
• tat-liṅgam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (tasya liṅgam)

• śirasā: with the head
• śirasā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• dhārayet: should bear/hold
• dhārayet: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhṛ (धृ)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; causative sense not intended here

• sadā: always
• sadā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• vibhūtiḥ: vibhūti (sacred ash)
• vibhūtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhūti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• tri-vidhā: threefold
• tri-vidhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + vidhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (threefold)

• proktā: is declared
• proktā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Predicate (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prokta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √vac (वच्) + उपसर्ग प्र- + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

• loka-veda-śiva-agni-bhiḥ: by the world, Vedas, Śiva and Agni
• loka-veda-śiva-agni-bhiḥ: Karaṇa/Agent (करण/कर्तृ-हेतु; passive agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + veda (प्रातिपदिक) + śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (by the world, the Vedas, Śiva, and Agni)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It teaches reverent, continuous devotion to Śiva through Liṅga-worship and the sanctifying power of vibhūti—reminding the devotee of Śiva as Pati (Lord) and the soul’s surrender, purity, and detachment.

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

The Liṅga is the accessible, saguna focus for worship; ‘bearing it on the head’ signifies honoring Śiva above one’s ego and intellect, making devotion steady rather than occasional.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Liṅga-pūjā with disciplined reverence and use vibhūti (bhasma)—understood in its threefold classification (loka, veda, and Śiva-agni)—as a Śaiva marker of purity, impermanence, and commitment to Śiva’s path.