Shloka 21

Mukti-bheda-nirūpaṇa (Classification of Liberation) and Śiva as the Sole Bestower of Mokṣa

Devanagari script

नैष्ठिक्यनैष्ठिकीभेदाद्विविधैव हि कीर्तिता । षड्विधा नैष्ठिकी भेदाद्द्वितीयैकविधा स्मृता

Transliteration

naiṣṭhikyanaiṣṭhikībhedādvividhaiva hi kīrtitā | ṣaḍvidhā naiṣṭhikī bhedāddvitīyaikavidhā smṛtā

Translation

நைஷ்டிக்யம் மற்றும் நைஷ்டிகீ என்ற வேறுபாட்டால் பக்தி இரண்டு வகை எனப் புகழப்படுகிறது. அவற்றில் நைஷ்டிகீ உள் பிரிவுகளால் ஆறு வகை; இரண்டாவது (நைஷ்டிக்யம்) ஒரே வகை என ஸ்மிருதி கூறுகிறது.

Word by Word

• naiṣṭhikya-anaiṣṭhikī-bhedāt: from the distinction of naiṣṭhikya and anaiṣṭhikī
• naiṣṭhikya-anaiṣṭhikī-bhedāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naiṣṭhikya (प्रातिपदिक) + anaiṣṭhikī (प्रातिपदिक) + bheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (द्वन्द्व) of two types + bheda; Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन); bheda Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

• vividhā: twofold/varied
• vividhā: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Emphasis (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) restrictive

• hi: indeed
• hi: Emphasis (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) indeed

• kīrtitā: is proclaimed
• kīrtitā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kīrt (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); predicative ‘is proclaimed’

• ṣaḍ-vidhā: sixfold
• ṣaḍ-vidhā: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṭ (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + vidhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvigu (द्विगु) numeral compound; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• naiṣṭhikī: the naiṣṭhikī (type)
• naiṣṭhikī: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) / Topic
• Type: Noun
• Root: naiṣṭhikī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन) (type-name)

• bhedāt: from (its) distinctions
• bhedāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन)

• dvitīya-eka-vidhā: the second (type) is onefold
• dvitīya-eka-vidhā: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvitīya (प्रातिपदिक) + eka (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + vidhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘dvitīyā (bhaktiḥ) ekavidhā’; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• smṛtā: is regarded
• smṛtā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); predicative ‘is considered’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames spiritual discipline as a structured path: steadfast commitment is not vague but classified, and the higher Naiṣṭhikī steadiness is presented as having multiple refined modes—highlighting progressive maturation of devotion and practice toward Shiva-realization and liberation.

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

By emphasizing niṣṭhā (unbroken steadiness), it supports Saguna Shiva worship—such as Linga-pūjā, mantra-japa, and daily observances—where continuity and unwavering focus are central; the sixfold Naiṣṭhikī divisions imply increasingly subtle forms of committed Shiva-upāsanā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is consistency: maintain daily Shiva worship with steady japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with supportive Shaiva observances like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa, so that practice becomes Naiṣṭhikī—uninterrupted and mature.