Shloka 7

बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

कारणं त्वात्मभोगार्थं जीवकर्मानुरूपतः । सुखं दुःखं पुण्यपापैः कर्मभिः फलमश्नुते

Transliteration

kāraṇaṃ tvātmabhogārthaṃ jīvakarmānurūpataḥ | sukhaṃ duḥkhaṃ puṇyapāpaiḥ karmabhiḥ phalamaśnute

Translation

कारणं देहादिकं तु आत्मभोगार्थं जीवकर्मानुरूपतः; पुण्यपापजन्यैः कर्मभिः सुखदुःखरूपं फलं जीवः अश्नुते।

Word by Word

• कारणम्: the causal (body)
• कारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular (neuter)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक निपात (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• आत्मभोगार्थम्: for self-enjoyment
• आत्मभोगार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् + भोग + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; purpose-sense ‘for the enjoyment of the self’

• जीवकर्मानुरूपतः: according to the soul’s deeds
• जीवकर्मानुरूपतः: Hetu/Anukūlatā (हेतु/अनुकूलता)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: जीव + कर्म + अनुरूप (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्यय)
• Form: तस्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverbial ablative); ‘according to the jīva’s karma’

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; object paired with दुःखम्

• दुःखम्: suffering
• दुःखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; object paired with सुखम्

• पुण्यपापैः: by merits and sins
• पुण्यपापैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य + पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहारद्वन्द्व), तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; instrumental plural ‘by merits and sins’

• कर्मभिः: by actions
• कर्मभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; instrumental plural ‘by actions’

• फलम्: result/fruit
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; object of अश्नुते

• अश्नुते: enjoys/experiences
• अश्नुते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘enjoys/attains’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

FAQs

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

It explains karmic causality: the jiva’s embodiment functions as an instrument for experiencing the fruits of past actions, manifesting as pleasure and pain; liberation requires turning from fruit-bound action toward Shiva-realization.

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

By showing that sukha-duhkha arise from punya-papa karma, it implicitly points to Linga-worship and devotion to Saguna Shiva as a purifying path that loosens karmic bondage and redirects the jiva toward Pati (Shiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice karma-shuddhi through Shiva-upasana: steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a surrender of results, supported by simple disciplines like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and Rudraksha as aids to remembrance.