Shloka 26
शिवशिवयोर्जगत्पितृमातृत्व-प्रतिपादनं तथा मेनायाः विमोहः (Śiva–Śivā as Cosmic Father and Mother; Menā’s Delusion and the Sages’ Intervention)
वरायाननुरूपाय पिता कन्यां ददाति चेत् । कामान्मोहाद्भयाल्लोभात्स नष्टो नरकं यजेत्
varāyānanurūpāya pitā kanyāṃ dadāti cet | kāmānmohādbhayāllobhātsa naṣṭo narakaṃ yajet
যদি পিতা কাম, মোহ, ভয় বা লোভে অনুপযুক্ত বরকে কন্যা দান করে, তবে সে ধর্মভ্রষ্ট হয়ে নরকে গমন করে।
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Shiva Purana teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Cosmic Event: naraka (post-mortem consequence) as karmic retribution
FAQs
It warns that adharma performed from kāma (desire), moha (delusion), bhaya (fear), or lobha (greed) corrupts one’s duty and produces painful karmic results; Shaiva ethics emphasizes purity of intention aligned with dharma.
Worship of Saguna Shiva is meant to purify motives and align actions with dharma; this verse highlights that ritual devotion without ethical integrity—especially in major life duties like marriage—does not protect one from the consequences of greed-driven action.
Practice self-examination and restraint before major decisions, and use Shiva-upāsanā—such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with sincere repentance and dharmic resolve—to purify motives and remove lobha and moha.