Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

ज्ञानमाता शंभुभक्तिर्मुक्तिभुक्तिप्रदा सदा । सुलभा यत्प्रसादाद्धि सत्प्रेमांकुर लक्षणा

Transliteration

jñānamātā śaṃbhubhaktirmuktibhuktipradā sadā | sulabhā yatprasādāddhi satpremāṃkura lakṣaṇā

Translation

对商布（Śambhu）的奉爱是正知之母；它恒常赐予世间福乐与解脱。凭祂的恩典，此奉爱易于成就，并以心中对湿婆真实之爱萌芽为其标志。

Word by Word

• jñāna-mātā: mother of knowledge
• jñāna-mātā: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate-noun (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘jñānasya mātā’; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• śaṃbhu-bhaktiḥ: devotion to Śambhu
• śaṃbhu-bhaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘śaṃbhoḥ bhaktiḥ’; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• mukti-bhukti-pradā: granting liberation and enjoyment
• mukti-bhukti-pradā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of śaṃbhu-bhaktiḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukti (प्रातिपदिक) + bhukti (प्रातिपदिक) + pradā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva-based compound (द्वन्द्व) ‘muktiṃ ca bhuktiṃ ca pradāti’; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• sulabhā: easily attainable
• sulabhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of bhaktiḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-labha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘su + labhā’; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• yat-prasādāt: from whose grace
• yat-prasādāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + prasāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘yasya prasādāt’; Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन); prasāda is Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

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

• sat-prema-aṃkura-lakṣaṇā: characterized by the sprout of true love
• sat-prema-aṃkura-lakṣaṇā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of bhaktiḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + prema (प्रातिपदिक) + aṃkura (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Multi-member Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘satprema-aṃkuraḥ lakṣaṇaṃ yasyāḥ’; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-bhakti is not merely emotion but the source of jñāna; by Śiva’s grace it matures into pure love, and from that devotion arise both bhukti (rightly ordered worldly well-being) and mukti (release from bondage).

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

In the Shiva Purana, accessible Saguna worship—especially of the Śiva-liṅga and Jyotirliṅgas—becomes “sulabhā” through Śiva’s prasāda; such concrete worship nurtures the inner sprout of true love that culminates in liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate Śiva-bhakti through steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), liṅga-pūjā with reverence, and daily remembrance seeking Śiva’s prasāda—watching for the inner sign of growing, selfless love.