Shloka 15

महापातकवर्णनम् (Mahāpātaka-varṇanam) — “Description of Great Sins and Their Consequences”

Devanagari script

अन्यायतः प्रयच्छंति शृण्वन्त्युच्चारयंति च । विक्रीडंति च लोभेन कुज्ञाननियमेन च

Transliteration

anyāyataḥ prayacchaṃti śṛṇvantyuccārayaṃti ca | vikrīḍaṃti ca lobhena kujñānaniyamena ca

Translation

Sie geben es (lehren oder spenden es) auf unrechte Weise; sie hören es an und rezitieren es auch. Von Gier getrieben behandeln sie es gar als Spielzeug—gebunden an die Regeln falschen Wissens.

Word by Word

• अन्यायतः: unjustly, from injustice
• अन्यायतः: हेतु/रीति (Cause/Manner adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्याय (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb)

• प्रयच्छन्ति: give, bestow
• प्रयच्छन्ति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+यम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• शृण्वन्ति: hear, listen
• शृण्वन्ति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• उच्चारयन्ति: make (others) utter, pronounce
• उच्चारयन्ति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्+चर् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• विक्रीडन्ति: play about, sport
• विक्रीडन्ति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+क्रीड् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• लोभेन: by greed
• लोभेन: करण/हेतु (Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुज्ञाननियमेन: by the rule/constraint of wrong knowledge
• कुज्ञाननियमेन: करण/हेतु (Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुज्ञाननियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (कुज्ञानस्य नियमः / कुज्ञान-सम्बन्धी नियमः)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, within the Umāsaṃhitā’s discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse warns that sacred teaching and recitation become spiritually fruitless when driven by adharma and greed; in Shaiva Siddhanta, such “ku-jñāna” strengthens pāśa (bondage) rather than leading the paśu toward Pati (Shiva).

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

Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva upāsanā demand śraddhā and purity; treating mantra, stotra, or ritual as a commodity or entertainment turns devotion into mere performance, obscuring Shiva’s grace (anugraha) that arises from sincere practice.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to chant Shiva-mantra (especially the Pañcākṣarī) with right intention, restraint, and reverence—avoiding show, bargaining, or greed—while aligning conduct with dharma (optionally supported by Tripuṇḍra and Rudrākṣa as aids to disciplined remembrance).