Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 30

Śiva-jñāna and the Non-dual Vision of a Śiva-maya Universe (शिवज्ञानम्—सर्वं शिवमयम्)

Devanagari script

जीवन्मुक्तस्य एवासौ देहः शीर्ण शिवे मिलेत् । प्रारब्धवशगो देहस्तद्भिन्नो ज्ञानवान् मतः

Transliteration

jīvanmuktasya evāsau dehaḥ śīrṇa śive milet | prārabdhavaśago dehastadbhinno jñānavān mataḥ

Translation

જીવન્મુક્તનો આ જ દેહ જ્યારે ક્ષીણ થાય ત્યારે શિવમાં લય પામે છે. દેહ પ્રારબ્ધના વશમાં ચાલે છે, પરંતુ જ્ઞાનીને દેહથી ભિન્ન માનવામાં આવે છે.

Word by Word

• jīvanmuktasya: of the liberated-while-living (jīvanmukta)
• jīvanmuktasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvan-mukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन — Masculine, Genitive, Singular; समासः कर्मधारय (जीवन् + मुक्त)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• asau: that (this)
• asau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; निर्देशवाचक (demonstrative)

• dehaḥ: body
• dehaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• śīrṇaḥ: decayed / worn out
• śīrṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śīrṇa (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; भूतकृदन्त (past participle from √śṝ/शॄ 'to decay')

• śive: in Śiva
• śive: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7/अधिकरण), एकवचन — Masculine, Locative, Singular

• milet: may merge / unite
• milet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mil (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (संभावना/विधान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Optative, 3rd person, Singular

• prārabdha-vaśa-gaḥ: one who is under the control of prārabdha (past karma)
• prārabdha-vaśa-gaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prārabdha + vaśa + ga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुष-समास (प्रारब्धस्य वशः → प्रारब्धवश; तस्मिन् गः)

• dehaḥ: the body
• dehaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• tat-bhinnaḥ: distinct from that
• tat-bhinnaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad + bhinna (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुष (तस्मात् भिन्नः)

• jñānavān: the knower / wise person
• jñānavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna-vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessor of knowledge)

• mataḥ: is considered
• mataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Past passive participle used predicatively: 'is considered'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation can be realized even while embodied (jīvanmukti): the body continues due to prārabdha karma, but the liberated knower is not bound by it and, at death, attains complete union with Śiva.

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

Linga-worship and devotion to Saguna Śiva purify the mind and mature knowledge and grace; this verse states the culmination—when bondage is cut, the jñānī remains inwardly established in Śiva even as the body continues outwardly until it falls.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steady Śiva-dhyāna and japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a disciplined Shaiva life (bhasma/tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa where appropriate), so knowledge and devotion remain firm while karma exhausts itself.