Shloka 6

बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

शरीरं त्रिविधं ज्ञेयं स्थूलं सूक्ष्मं च कारणम् । स्थूलं व्यापारदं प्रोक्तं सूक्ष्ममिंद्रि यभोगदम्

Transliteration

śarīraṃ trividhaṃ jñeyaṃ sthūlaṃ sūkṣmaṃ ca kāraṇam | sthūlaṃ vyāpāradaṃ proktaṃ sūkṣmamiṃdri yabhogadam

Translation

The body is to be understood as threefold: the gross, the subtle, and the causal. The gross body is said to be the instrument of outward actions, while the subtle body grants sense-experiences through the faculties.

Word by Word

• शरीरम्: body
• शरीरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular (neuter)

• त्रिविधम्: threefold
• त्रिविधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; adjective agreeing with शरीरम्

• ज्ञेयम्: to be known
• ज्ञेयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृत्)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/future passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be known’

• स्थूलम्: gross
• स्थूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; appositional to शरीरम्

• सूक्ष्मम्: subtle
• सूक्ष्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; appositional to शरीरम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• कारणम्: causal (body)/cause
• कारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; third category in apposition

• स्थूलम्: the gross (body)
• स्थूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘the gross (one)’ (elliptic noun)

• व्यापारदम्: giving activity/function
• व्यापारदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यापार + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘giving activity’; adjective of स्थूलम्

• प्रोक्तम्: declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘said/declared’

• सूक्ष्मम्: the subtle (body)
• सूक्ष्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘the subtle (one)’

• इन्द्रियभोगदम्: giving sensory enjoyment
• इन्द्रियभोगदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इन्द्रिय + भोग + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘giving sense-enjoyment’; adjective of सूक्ष्मम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It distinguishes the gross, subtle, and causal layers that bind the soul (paśu) to experience; recognizing these coverings supports discrimination and turning toward Lord Shiva (Pati) for liberation.

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

Linga-worship trains the devotee to shift attention from bodily action and sensory enjoyment to the inner reality of Shiva, helping transcend identification with the gross and subtle bodies while seeking Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with inward awareness, using bhasma/tripundra and disciplined sense-restraint to reduce indriya-bhoga and stabilize meditation.