Shloka 37
पार्वतीवाक्यं—शिवस्य परब्रह्मत्व-निरूपणम्
Pārvatī’s Discourse: Establishing Śiva as Parabrahman
न केवलम्भवेत्पापं निन्दां कर्तुश्शिवस्य हि । यो वै शृणोति तन्निन्दां पापभाक् स भवेदिह
na kevalambhavetpāpaṃ nindāṃ kartuśśivasya hi | yo vai śṛṇoti tannindāṃ pāpabhāk sa bhavediha
Sin does not belong only to the one who abuses Lord Śiva; whoever even listens to that blasphemy becomes a sharer of that sin here, in this very life.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Significance: Defines a key boundary of Śaiva sadācāra: even śravaṇa (listening) to śiva-nindā implicates the listener. Pilgrimage/temple culture thus emphasizes śravaṇa-śuddhi—hearing only auspicious Śiva-kathā and stotra.
FAQs
It teaches that spiritual downfall is not only through harmful speech but also through consenting attention—listening to Śiva-nindā strengthens impurity (mala) and binds the soul further, so a devotee must protect śravaṇa (what one hears) to preserve bhakti and dharma.
Linga-worship and Saguna-Śiva devotion are sustained by reverence (śraddhā). Entertaining blasphemy undermines that reverence, so the Purāṇa frames respectful speech and listening as part of proper upacāra (devotional conduct) toward the Linga and Śiva’s forms.
Maintain satsanga and avoid nindā-śravaṇa; if exposed, withdraw and purify the mind through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple devotion such as offering water to the Linga with a repentant, steady mind.