Shloka 27

तारकवाक्य-शक्रविष्णुवीरभद्रयुद्धवर्णनम् — Account of Tāraka’s declarations and the battle involving Śakra (Indra), Viṣṇu, and Vīrabhadra

Devanagari script

भ्राता ज्येष्ठश्च यस्तस्य शक्रः पापी महान्मतः । तेन पापान्यनेकानि कृतानि निजहेतुतः

Transliteration

bhrātā jyeṣṭhaśca yastasya śakraḥ pāpī mahānmataḥ | tena pāpānyanekāni kṛtāni nijahetutaḥ

Translation

His elder brother—Śakra (Indra)—is regarded as greatly sinful; for, driven by his own self-interest, he committed many misdeeds.

Word by Word

• भ्राता: brother
• भ्राता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• ज्येष्ठः: elder
• ज्येष्ठः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शक्रः: Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष-नाम (proper noun)

• पापी: sinful
• पापी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• महान्: great
• महान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• मतः: considered
• मतः: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (प्रधान-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) ‘मत’ = considered; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पापानि: sins
• पापानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• अनेकानि: many
• अनेकानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• कृतानि: committed/done
• कृतानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘पापानि’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• निजहेतुतः: due to his own motive/cause
• निजहेतुतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक) + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘-तः’ = from/because of; अर्थः: स्वकारणात्

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Śakra)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that even exalted gods fall into pāpa when driven by ego and self-interest; Shaiva teaching emphasizes purification through dharma, humility, and devotion to Lord Shiva, the Pati who liberates beings from the bonds of karma.

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

By contrasting selfish action with righteous conduct, it indirectly points to taking refuge in Saguna Shiva—worship of the Linga as a stabilizing focus for surrender—so the devotee’s motives are purified and actions become aligned with Shiva-dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to purify intention through daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and simple Linga-pūjā as disciplines that curb ego-driven impulses.