Shloka 8

बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

तस्माद्धि कर्मरज्ज्वा हि बद्धो जीवः पुनः पुनः । शरीरत्रयकर्मभ्यां चक्रवद्भ्राम्यते सदा

Transliteration

tasmāddhi karmarajjvā hi baddho jīvaḥ punaḥ punaḥ | śarīratrayakarmabhyāṃ cakravadbhrāmyate sadā

Translation

Kaya nga, ang kaluluwa (jīva) ay paulit-ulit na iginagapos ng lubid ng karma; at dahil sa mga gawaing kaugnay ng tatlong katawan, ito’y laging umiikot at gumagala na parang gulong.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादानार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-प्रयोगः (ablatival adverbial use); अव्ययवत् ‘therefore/from that’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• कर्मरज्ज्वा: by the rope of karma
• कर्मरज्ज्वा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म-रज्जु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कर्मणः रज्जुः)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• बद्धः: bound
• बद्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘bound’

• जीवः: the individual soul
• जीवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• पुनः: again and again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)

• शरीरत्रयकर्मभ्याम्: by the actions (connected) with the three bodies
• शरीरत्रयकर्मभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर-त्रय-कर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), द्विवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शरीराणां त्रयम् = शरीरत्रय, तेषां कर्म)

• चक्रवत्: like a wheel
• चक्रवत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चक्रवत् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्यय (उपमानार्थ-क्रियाविशेषण), ‘like a wheel’

• भ्राम्यते: wanders/whirls
• भ्राम्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the teaching to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya in the Vidyeśvara Saṃhitā’s doctrinal section)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

FAQs

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

It teaches that the jīva is not free while tied to karma; actions performed through the three bodies perpetuate saṃsāra, and liberation arises when this bondage (pāśa) is cut through Śiva-centered knowledge and grace (Pati’s anugraha).

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

Linga-worship fixes the mind on Śiva as Pati (the Lord beyond karma). By devotion, mantra, and disciplined conduct offered to the Linga, karmic impressions thin out and the jīva turns from wheel-like wandering toward steadiness in Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Śiva-dhyāna, supported by Śaiva observances such as wearing Rudrākṣa and applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma), to weaken karmic binding and cultivate liberation-oriented awareness.