Shloka 7

बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

कारणं त्वात्मभोगार्थं जीवकर्मानुरूपतः । सुखं दुःखं पुण्यपापैः कर्मभिः फलमश्नुते

Transliteration

kāraṇaṃ tvātmabhogārthaṃ jīvakarmānurūpataḥ | sukhaṃ duḥkhaṃ puṇyapāpaiḥ karmabhiḥ phalamaśnute

Translation

Indeed, the body and its instruments exist for the jīva’s experience, in accordance with one’s own karma. Through deeds born of merit and demerit, one partakes of their fruits as pleasure and pain.

Word by Word

• कारणम्: the causal (body)
• कारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular (neuter)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक निपात (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• आत्मभोगार्थम्: for self-enjoyment
• आत्मभोगार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् + भोग + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; purpose-sense ‘for the enjoyment of the self’

• जीवकर्मानुरूपतः: according to the soul’s deeds
• जीवकर्मानुरूपतः: Hetu/Anukūlatā (हेतु/अनुकूलता)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: जीव + कर्म + अनुरूप (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्यय)
• Form: तस्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverbial ablative); ‘according to the jīva’s karma’

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; object paired with दुःखम्

• दुःखम्: suffering
• दुःखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; object paired with सुखम्

• पुण्यपापैः: by merits and sins
• पुण्यपापैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य + पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहारद्वन्द्व), तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; instrumental plural ‘by merits and sins’

• कर्मभिः: by actions
• कर्मभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; instrumental plural ‘by actions’

• फलम्: result/fruit
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; object of अश्नुते

• अश्नुते: enjoys/experiences
• अश्नुते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘enjoys/attains’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

FAQs

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

It explains karmic causality: the jiva’s embodiment functions as an instrument for experiencing the fruits of past actions, manifesting as pleasure and pain; liberation requires turning from fruit-bound action toward Shiva-realization.

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

By showing that sukha-duhkha arise from punya-papa karma, it implicitly points to Linga-worship and devotion to Saguna Shiva as a purifying path that loosens karmic bondage and redirects the jiva toward Pati (Shiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice karma-shuddhi through Shiva-upasana: steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a surrender of results, supported by simple disciplines like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and Rudraksha as aids to remembrance.