Shloka 16
बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्
Bondage and Liberation: The Prakṛti–Karma Wheel and Śiva as the Transcendent Cause
पुजया तु महेशो हि प्रकृतेः परमः शिवः । प्रसादं कुरुते सत्यं पूजकस्य विशेषतः
pujayā tu maheśo hi prakṛteḥ paramaḥ śivaḥ | prasādaṃ kurute satyaṃ pūjakasya viśeṣataḥ
Sesungguhnya melalui pemujaan, Mahesha—Śiva yang tertinggi melampaui Prakṛti—benar-benar mengurniakan rahmat-Nya, khususnya kepada si pemuja.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Viśveśvara is proclaimed ‘prakṛteḥ paramaḥ’—beyond Prakṛti—yet accessible through pūjā; this is the classic Purāṇic framing of transcendence plus immanence in the jyotirliṅga.
Significance: Assures devotees that worship is met with real anugraha; reinforces confidence (śraddhā) in ritual and devotion as grace-bearing.
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
Offering: dhupa
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva, the supreme Lord beyond material nature (Prakriti), responds to sincere devotion by granting prasada (grace), which is the decisive aid for purification and liberation in Shaiva understanding.
Though Shiva is beyond Prakriti (transcendent), He becomes accessible through Saguna worship such as Linga-puja; the verse affirms that ritual devotion is a direct means by which the devotee receives His grace.
Regular Shiva-puja with devotion—supported by japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and traditional aids like bhasma (Tripundra) and rudraksha—aligns the worshipper to receive Shiva’s prasada.