Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

बन्धमोक्षौ न चैवेह मम स्वेच्छा शरीरिणः अकर्तज्ञः पशुर्जीवो विभुर्भोक्ता ह्यणुः पुमान्

Transliteration

bandhamokṣau na caiveha mama svecchā śarīriṇaḥ akartajñaḥ paśurjīvo vibhurbhoktā hyaṇuḥ pumān

Translation

“Ang pagkagapos at paglaya ay hindi, sa katotohanan, sariling kalooban Ko bilang may katawan. Ang jīva ang paśu—isang kumikilos na hindi tunay na nakakakilala sa Gumagawa; bagama’t inaakala niyang siya’y makapangyarihan at tagapagtamasa, ang tao sa totoo’y aṇu, isang sarili na may hangganan.”

Word by Word

• bandha-mokṣau: bondage and liberation

• na ca eva iha: not indeed here (in reality)

• mama: for Me / Mine

• sva-icchā: mere personal whim / arbitrary choice

• śarīriṇaḥ: of the embodied one

• akartajñaḥ: not knowing the true agent (ignorant of the real doer)

• paśuḥ: the bound soul (pashu)

• jīvaḥ: individual living self

• vibhuḥ: (imagined as) all-powerful / independent

• bhoktā: enjoyer / experiencer

• hi: indeed

• aṇuḥ: atomic, finite, limited

• pumān: person / soul

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-tattva doctrine to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Pashu (Jiva)
• Pasha (Bondage)

FAQs

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

It frames Linga worship as a disciplined path to dissolve pasha (bondage) born of ignorance—rather than seeing moksha as a random favor—so devotion is joined with right knowledge of Pati (Shiva) and the limited pashu (soul).

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

Shiva is implied as the true Pati and real agent beyond embodiment and caprice; the verse rejects the idea that bondage/liberation are merely His arbitrary bodily will, pointing instead to a principled cosmic order where ignorance binds the jiva.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway supports Pashupata Yoga: reduce false doership and enjoyership (kartṛtva/bhoktṛtva) through Shiva-upasana, japa, and inner detachment, recognizing oneself as anu (limited) and Shiva as the true sovereign.