Shloka 11

Gaṅgā-Avataraṇa and the Naming of Gaṅgādvāra (गङ्गावतरणम्—गङ्गाद्वारप्रसिद्धिः)

Devanagari script

एते दुष्टतमाश्चैव कृतघ्नाः स्वामिद्रोहिणः । जाल्माः पाखंडिनश्चैव द्रष्टुं वर्ज्याश्च सर्वदा

Transliteration

ete duṣṭatamāścaiva kṛtaghnāḥ svāmidrohiṇaḥ | jālmāḥ pākhaṃḍinaścaiva draṣṭuṃ varjyāśca sarvadā

Translation

Such people are indeed the most wicked—ungrateful, betrayers of their own masters, base and deceitful, and hypocritical heretics; they should always be avoided, even to the point of not seeking their company or sight.

Word by Word

• ete: these
• ete: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); demonstrative pronoun (सर्वनाम)

• duṣṭa-tamāḥ: most wicked
• duṣṭa-tamāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); superlative (तमप्-प्रत्यय)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis

• kṛta-ghnāḥ: ungrateful
• kṛta-ghnāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + ghnin/ghna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुषः (कृतं हन्ति/कृतघ्नः = ungrateful)

• svāmi-drohiṇaḥ: traitors to their master
• svāmi-drohiṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svāmin (प्रातिपदिक) + drohin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुषः (स्वामिनि द्रोहः यस्य)

• jālmāḥ: base/vile persons
• jālmāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jālma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• pākhaṇḍinaḥ: hypocrites/heretics
• pākhaṇḍinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pākhaṇḍin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis

• draṣṭum: to see
• draṣṭum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dṛś (धातु) → draṣṭum (कृदन्त)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), avyaya (अव्ययभाव); purpose sense

• varjyāḥ: to be avoided
• varjyāḥ: Vidhi/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛj (धातु) → varjya (कृदन्त)
• Form: Gerundive/obligatory participle (ण्यत्/यत्-अर्थ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

• sarvadā: always
• sarvadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of time (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that spiritual progress in Shaiva devotion depends on śuddhi (inner purity) and sat-saṅga; association with the ungrateful, treacherous, and hypocritical strengthens pāśa (bondage) and obstructs bhakti toward Pati (Lord Shiva).

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

Linga-worship emphasizes sincerity, reverence, and right conduct; this verse warns that hypocrisy and betrayal are incompatible with true Saguna Shiva-bhakti, so a devotee should maintain purity of company while undertaking darśana and Jyotirlinga pilgrimage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to protect one’s sādhanā through sat-saṅga, daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), and steady observance of Śiva-dharma (e.g., Tripuṇḍra and Rudrākṣa with sincere conduct), avoiding corrupting company.