Shloka 48

Adhyaya 71: पुरत्रयवृत्तान्तः—ब्रह्मवरदानम्, मयकृतत्रिपुर-निर्माणम्, विष्णुमाया-धर्मविघ्नः, शिवस्तुति, त्रिपुरदाहोपक्रमः

Devanagari script

अपापा नैव हन्तव्याः पापा एव न संशयः हन्तव्याः सर्वयत्नेन कथं वध्याः सुरोत्तमाः

Transliteration

apāpā naiva hantavyāḥ pāpā eva na saṃśayaḥ hantavyāḥ sarvayatnena kathaṃ vadhyāḥ surottamāḥ

Translation

The sinless are never to be slain; only the sinful—without doubt—are to be destroyed with every effort. Yet how could the best of the Devas be fit to be killed?

Word by Word

• अपापा (apāpāḥ): sinless, free from pāpa

• नैव (naiva): never indeed

• हन्तव्याः (hantavyāḥ): to be slain/should be killed

• पापा (pāpāḥ): sinful, bearers of pāpa

• एव (eva): only/indeed

• न (na): not

• संशयः (saṁśayaḥ): doubt

• सर्वयत्नेन (sarvayatnena): with all effort, by every means

• कथम् (katham): how?

• वध्याः (vadhyāḥ): fit to be slain, killable

• सुरोत्तमाः (surottamāḥ): the foremost among the gods (Devas)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating an internal deliberation among Devas regarding dharmic killing)

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames Shiva-centered dharma as discernment: violence is never praised for its own sake; the aim is the protection of cosmic order so that worship, yajña, and Linga-puja can continue without adharma obstructing them.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By implication, Shiva-tattva as Pati is the upholder of dharma who removes pāpa (a form of pasha/bondage). The verse stresses moral discrimination—sinless beings are not targets—aligning with Shiva’s role as purifier and protector of right order.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The practical takeaway is ethical discipline (yama-like restraint): avoid harming the innocent and act only for dharma-rakṣa. In Pashupata terms, reducing pāpa weakens pasha and supports steadiness for mantra, puja, and yoga.