Shloka 5

बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

प्रकृट्याद्यष्टजो देहो देहजं कर्म उच्यते । पुनश्च कर्मजो देहो जन्मकर्म पुनः पुनः

Transliteration

prakṛṭyādyaṣṭajo deho dehajaṃ karma ucyate | punaśca karmajo deho janmakarma punaḥ punaḥ

Translation

由原质（Prakṛti）及八种原理所生之身，被说为引发依身而起之业的因。复次，业又生身——于是生与业周而复始，反复不已。

Word by Word

• प्रकृत्याद्यष्टजः: born from the prakṛti-etc. octad
• प्रकृत्याद्यष्टजः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रकृति + आदि + अष्ट + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (प्रकृत्याद्यष्टकात् जातः = born from the octad beginning with prakṛti)

• देहः: body
• देहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• देहजम्: born of the body
• देहजम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देह + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (देहात् जातम् = arising from the body)

• कर्म: action; karma
• कर्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (वच्) (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपद

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (again)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कर्मजः: born of karma
• कर्मजः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्मन् + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (कर्मणः जातः = born of karma)

• देहः: body
• देहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• जन्मकर्म: birth and action (cycle of birth and deeds)
• जन्मकर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (जन्म च कर्म च) collective singular

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (again)

• पुनः: again and again
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति-बलार्थ (repetition for emphasis)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It explains saṃsāra as a mutual reinforcement: embodiment produces karma, and karma produces further embodiment—showing why the bound soul (paśu) remains under bondage (pāśa) until liberated by the grace of Pati, Shiva.

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

By revealing the mechanism of repeated birth through karma, it directs the devotee toward Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—as a purifying path that weakens karmic bondage and turns the mind toward Shiva, the liberator beyond Prakṛti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Karma is reduced through Shiva-centered sādhanā: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), worship of the Linga, and disciplined conduct; these are traditionally supported by vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to remembrance and purity.