Shloka 87

बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

श्रुतं करोति शुश्रूषा कायेन मनसा गिरा । उक्तं यद्गुरुणा पूर्वं शक्यं वाऽशक्यमेव वा

Transliteration

śrutaṃ karoti śuśrūṣā kāyena manasā girā | uktaṃ yadguruṇā pūrvaṃ śakyaṃ vā'śakyameva vā

Translation

He makes his learning real through devoted service—by body, mind, and speech. Whatever the Guru has previously instructed, whether it seems possible or even impossible, he undertakes it as a sacred duty.

Word by Word

• श्रुतम्: what is heard/learnt
• श्रुतम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular) — ‘that which is heard/learnt’

• करोति: does; performs
• करोति: क्रिया (verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• शुश्रूषा: service; attentive obedience
• शुश्रूषा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुश्रूषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कायेन: by the body
• कायेन: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• मनसा: by the mind
• मनसा: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• गिरा: by speech
• गिरा: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• उक्तम्: what is said
• उक्तम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular) — ‘what is said’

• यत्: which; that which
• यत्: कर्म (object; relative pronoun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular) — correlating to ‘उक्तम्’

• गुरुणा: by the teacher
• गुरुणा: कर्ता (agent in passive sense)/करण (by the teacher)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• पूर्वम्: previously
• पूर्वम्: क्रियाविशेषण (time adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: formerly/before)

• शक्यम्: possible
• शक्यम्: विशेषण/विधेय (predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्य (प्रातिपदिक; from शक् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular) — ‘possible’ (predicative)

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प (disjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: ‘or’)

• अशक्यम्: impossible
• अशक्यम्: विशेषण/विधेय (predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-शक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular) — ‘impossible’

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: अवधारण (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle: ‘indeed/only’)

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प (disjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Guru

FAQs

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

It defines authentic discipleship: Shaiva knowledge (śruti and instruction) must mature into lived sadhana through humble service and obedience to the Guru, not remain mere recitation.

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

In the Vidyeshvara context, Linga-worship and Shaiva vows are received through the Guru; the verse teaches that the disciple honors Saguna Shiva by executing the Guru-given disciplines exactly, as acts of devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to disciplined Guru-directed practice—regular mantra-japa (such as Panchakshara), worship routines, and observances—performed with integrity in body, speech, and mind.