Shloka 77

बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

वकारः शक्तिरमृतं मेलनं शिव उच्यते । तस्मादेवं स्वमात्मानं शिवं कृत्वार्चयेच्छिवम्

Transliteration

vakāraḥ śaktiramṛtaṃ melanaṃ śiva ucyate | tasmādevaṃ svamātmānaṃ śivaṃ kṛtvārcayecchivam

Translation

“Va” is declared to be Śakti, the amṛta—nectar of immortality—and the sacred union; this indeed is called Śiva. Therefore, having made one’s own self to be Śiva (through inner identification and purity), one should worship Śiva.

Word by Word

• vakāraḥ: the syllable/letter 'va'
• vakāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vakāra (वकार प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• śaktiḥ: power; Śakti
• śaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / apposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (शक्ति प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• amṛtam: nectar; immortality
• amṛtam: Karta (कर्ता) / apposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: amṛta (अमृत प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular

• melanam: union; meeting
• melanam: Karta (कर्ता) / apposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: melana (मेलन प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular

• śivaḥ: Śiva
• śivaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / predicate nominative
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (शिव प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ucyate: is called; is said
• ucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Passive voice (कर्मणि), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasmāt: therefore; from that
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya-like form used as indeclinable ablative (तस्मात्), causal connector (हेतौ)

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, manner adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• svam: one's own
• svam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (स्व प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective qualifying ātmānam

• ātmānam: self
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (आत्मन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• śivam: as Śiva; auspicious
• śivam: Karma (कर्म) / resultative complement
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (शिव प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; predicate adjective with kṛtvā

• kṛtvā: having made
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), indeclinable verbal form (अव्ययीभाववत्) indicating prior action

• arcayet: should worship
• arcayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arc (अर्च् धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (शिव प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that true Śiva-worship is not only external ritual but also inner transformation—purifying and aligning the self with Śiva through mantra-meaning, Śakti, and the experience of immortality (amṛta).

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

It supports Saguna worship (such as Linga-arcana) while emphasizing that the worshipper should inwardly become ‘Śiva-like’—pure, steady, and united with Śakti—so the outer offering is empowered by inner realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on the mantra-syllable meaning (especially the śakti-tattva implied by “va”), cultivate inner purity and unity, then perform Śiva-arcana—ideally with japa of the Pañcākṣarī and focused contemplation during worship.