Shloka 5

Adhyaya 87 — Saṃsāra-viṣa-kathana: Ājñā-śakti, Māyā-bandha, and Mokṣa by Prasāda

Devanagari script

मायी च मायया बद्धः कर्मभिर् युज्यते तु सः ज्ञानं ध्यानं च बन्धश् च मोक्षो नास्त्यात्मनो द्विजाः

Transliteration

māyī ca māyayā baddhaḥ karmabhir yujyate tu saḥ jñānaṃ dhyānaṃ ca bandhaś ca mokṣo nāstyātmano dvijāḥ

Translation

ഹേ ദ്വിജന്മാരേ! മായാശക്തിയുള്ള ഈ ജീവൻ മായയാൽ ബന്ധിതനായി കർമ്മങ്ങളോട് യുക്തനാകുന്നു. അവനു ജ്ഞാനവും ധ്യാനവും പോലും ബന്ധമാകാം; പതിരൂപ ശിവന്റെ ശരണം കൂടാതെ മോക്ഷമില്ല.

Word by Word

• मायी (māyī): possessing/operating through māyā

• च (ca): and

• मायया (māyayā): by/through māyā

• बद्धः (baddhaḥ): bound

• कर्मभिः (karmabhiḥ): by actions/karmas

• युज्यते (yujyate): is yoked/engaged/connected

• तु (tu): indeed/but

• सः (saḥ): he/that (jīva)

• ज्ञानम् (jñānam): knowledge

• ध्यानम् (dhyānam): meditation

• च (ca): and

• बन्धः (bandhaḥ): bondage

• च (ca): and

• मोक्षः (mokṣaḥ): liberation

• न (na): not

• अस्ति (asti): is/exists

• आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ): for the self/of the self

• द्विजाः (dvijāḥ): O twice-born (brāhmaṇas)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames the core Shaiva premise behind Linga worship: the jīva (paśu) remains bound by māyā and karma, and freedom comes not merely from techniques but from turning toward Pati—Śiva—whose grace and right orientation of practice dissolve bondage.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By implication, Śiva is Pati—transcendent to māyā and karma—while the bound self is paśu under pāśa. Liberation is possible only by aligning knowledge and meditation with Śiva-tattva (the Lord beyond māyā), not by ego-driven attainment.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It cautions that jñāna and dhyāna alone can become bondage when performed under māyā; in Pāśupata Yoga they must be joined to devotion, surrender, and Śiva-centered discipline (Śiva-smaraṇa and Linga-upāsanā) aimed at pāśa-kṣaya (removal of bonds).