Shloka 20

ध्यानयज्ञः, संसार-विष-निरूपणम्, पाशुपतयोगः, परा-अपरा विद्या, चतुर्वस्था-विचारः (अध्यायः ८६)

Devanagari script

प्रजया कर्मणा मुक्तिर् धनेन च सतां न हि त्यागेनैकेन मुक्तिः स्यात् तदभावाद्भ्रमत्यसौ

Transliteration

prajayā karmaṇā muktir dhanena ca satāṃ na hi tyāgenaikena muktiḥ syāt tadabhāvādbhramatyasau

Translation

解脱（mukti）不由子嗣而得，不由祭仪之业（karma）而得，不由财富而得——即便贤善之人亦然。解脱也不从单独的弃舍而生；若无真实智慧与对湿婆的证悟，灵魂（paśu）只是在迷妄中流转。

Word by Word

• प्रजया (prajayā): by progeny/offspring

• कर्मणा (karmaṇā): by action/rites

• मुक्तिः (muktiḥ): liberation

• धनेन (dhanena): by wealth

• च (ca): and

• सताम् (satām): of the good/virtuous

• न (na): not

• हि (hi): indeed

• त्यागेन (tyāgena): by renunciation

• एकेन (ekena): alone/merely

• मुक्तिः (muktiḥ): liberation

• स्यात् (syāt): would be/should arise

• तदभावात् (tad-abhāvāt): due to the absence of that (true wisdom/realization)

• भ्रमति (bhramati): wanders/is deluded

• असौ (asau): this one (the individual soul).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching as part of the Purana’s discourse on moksha)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It redirects the seeker from external supports—progeny, wealth, and even bare renunciation—to inner Shiva-realization; Linga worship is thus validated as a means of turning the paśu toward Pati through jñāna and bhakti, not mere social or ritual accomplishment.

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

By denying liberation through worldly means and isolated tyāga, it implies Shiva-tattva as the transcendent Pati whose grace/realization alone cuts pasha; without that, the paśu continues in saṃsāric wandering.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway aligns with Pāśupata orientation: karma and external acts are insufficient unless joined with viveka, inner detachment, and Shiva-centered upāsanā (such as Linga-pūjā with japa/dhyāna) leading to true jñāna.