Shloka 145

बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

यावद्देहं क्रियाधीनः सजीवो बद्ध उच्यते । देहत्रयवशीकारे मोक्ष इत्युच्यते बुधैः

Transliteration

yāvaddehaṃ kriyādhīnaḥ sajīvo baddha ucyate | dehatrayavaśīkāre mokṣa ityucyate budhaiḥ

Translation

ദേഹധാരിയായ ജീവൻ ദേഹക്രിയകളുടെ അധീനനായി ഇരിക്കുന്നതോളം ‘ബന്ധിതൻ’ എന്നു വിളിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു. എന്നാൽ സ്ഥൂല, സൂക്ഷ്മ, കാരണ—ഈ മൂന്ന് ദേഹങ്ങളെയും വശീകരിച്ച് അധീനമാക്കുമ്പോൾ, ജ്ഞാനികൾ ആ നിലയെ ‘മോക്ഷം’ എന്നു പറയുന്നു.

Word by Word

• yāvat: as long as
• yāvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), काल-परिमाणार्थक/यावत् = 'as long as' (सम्बन्धसूचक)

• deham: the body
• deham: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• kriyā-adhīnaḥ: dependent on actions
• kriyā-adhīnaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kriyā (प्रातिपदिक) + adhīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa: क्रियायाः अधीनः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjectival)

• sa-jīvaḥ: living (with life)
• sa-jīvaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह) + jīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (with-life), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• baddhaḥ: bound
• baddhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bandh (धातु) → baddha (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• ucyate: is called
• ucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• deha-traya-vaśīkāre: in the mastery of the three bodies
• deha-traya-vaśīkāre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (प्रातिपदिक) + vaśīkāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (deha-trayaस्य vaśīkāraः), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• mokṣaḥ: liberation
• mokṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mokṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (quotative particle)

• ucyate: is called
• ucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, कर्मणि (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• budhaiḥ: by the wise
• budhaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines bondage as dependence on bodily-driven action and liberation as inner mastery over the gross, subtle, and causal layers—aligning with Shaiva Siddhanta’s view that freedom arises when the soul is no longer compelled by pāśa (bondage) and becomes fit for Shiva’s grace.

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

Linga-worship trains the devotee to shift identity from the body to Shiva (Pati). Through devotion, mantra, and disciplined worship, the mind and subtle impulses are purified, enabling control of the three bodies and culminating in liberation through Shiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namah Shivaya) with disciplined worship (puja), alongside yogic restraint of senses and mind; these support mastery over the gross and subtle bodies, while contemplation and surrender to Shiva weaken the causal bondage.