Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 6
Mukti-bheda-nirūpaṇa (Classification of Liberation) and Śiva as the Sole Bestower of Mokṣa
ज्ञानरूपोऽव्ययः साक्षी ज्ञानगम्योऽद्वयस्स्वयम् । कैवल्यमुक्तिदस्सोऽत्र त्रिवर्गस्य प्रदोऽपि हि
jñānarūpo'vyayaḥ sākṣī jñānagamyo'dvayassvayam | kaivalyamuktidasso'tra trivargasya prado'pi hi
祂以觉知之智为体，不朽不坏，为内在之见证者。以真实之智可达于祂，而祂自性不二。诚然，祂赐予解脱之“独存”(kaivalya)；并且在此亦赐世间三求：法(dharma)、利(artha)、欲(kāma)。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Supports jñāna-oriented Śiva-upāsanā: realizing Śiva as sākṣin and advaya leads to kaivalya-mukti; also legitimizes seeking trivarga under Śiva’s lordship while aiming for mokṣa.
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse presents Shiva as the imperishable inner Witness and the non-dual reality, attainable through jñāna; it teaches that realization of Shiva culminates in kaivalya (liberation), while also affirming His power to grant worldly well-being under dharma.
Though Shiva is described as non-dual consciousness (nirguṇa in essence), devotees approach Him through saguna worship such as the Jyotirlinga/Linga; the same Lord who is the inner Witness becomes accessible through sacred form, bestowing both bhukti (trivarga) and mukti (kaivalya).
A key takeaway is jñāna-oriented meditation: contemplate Shiva as the sākṣī (witness-consciousness) while maintaining devotional Linga worship; supporting Shaiva practices like japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and bhasma/rudrākṣa observances can be aligned to seek both purity and liberation.