Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 40
दक्षयज्ञे सत्या अपमानबोधः — Satī Encounters Disrespect at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice
यदि शक्तस्स्वयं शंभोर्निंदकस्य विशेषतः । छिंद्यात् प्रसह्य रसनां तदा शुद्ध्येन्न संशयः
yadi śaktassvayaṃ śaṃbhorniṃdakasya viśeṣataḥ | chiṃdyāt prasahya rasanāṃ tadā śuddhyenna saṃśayaḥ
Wenn jemand dazu fähig ist—besonders im Fall eines Lästerers Śambhus (des Herrn Śiva)—soll er ihm gewaltsam die Zunge herausschneiden; dann wird er geläutert, daran besteht kein Zweifel.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it occurs in the Satīkhaṇḍa’s narrative on dharma/ācāra regarding Śiva-nindā (blasphemy of Śiva) and its expiation.
Significance: General Śaiva-ācāra teaching: guarding one’s speech/hearing from Śiva-nindā is treated as a purifier and protector of bhakti.
FAQs
The verse underscores the grave spiritual offense (aparādha) of Shiva-nindā—harmful speech against Śiva and His devotees—and teaches that purity is tied to restraining and correcting the tongue, the instrument of such offense.
Linga/Saguna-Śiva worship in the Purāṇa is founded on reverence, mantra, and purity of speech; this verse warns that disrespect toward Śiva directly contradicts devotional practice and blocks the fruit of worship.
The practical takeaway is discipline of speech: avoid Shiva-nindā, cultivate japa (especially the Panchākṣarī ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’), and maintain devotional purity—using the tongue for mantra rather than offense.