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Shloka 21

देवगुरुप्रेषणम्

Himālaya Mission of the Gods’ Preceptor / The Gods Send Their Guru

ब्रह्मोवाच । नाहं कर्तुं क्षमो वत्साः शिवनिन्दां सुदुस्सहाम् । संपद्विनाश रूपाञ्च विपदां बीजरूपिणीम्

brahmovāca | nāhaṃ kartuṃ kṣamo vatsāḥ śivanindāṃ sudussahām | saṃpadvināśa rūpāñca vipadāṃ bījarūpiṇīm

Brahmā said: “O dear children, I am not capable of uttering the unbearable blasphemy of Śiva—blasphemy that destroys prosperity and becomes the seed of calamities.”

brahmāBrahmā
brahmā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootbrahman (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st), Singular
uvācasaid
uvāca:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootvac (धातु)
FormPerfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular, Parasmaipada
nanot
na:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormNegation particle (निषेध-निपात)
ahamI
aham:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormFirst person pronoun, Nominative (1st), Singular
kartumto do/to perform
kartum:
Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
TypeVerb
Rootkṛ (धातु) + tumun (तुमुन्)
FormInfinitive (तुमुन्), indeclinable verbal form
kṣamaḥcapable
kṣamaḥ:
Pradhāna-predicative (विधेय)
TypeAdjective
Rootkṣama (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; predicate adjective with 'aham'
vatsāḥO dear children
vatsāḥ:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootvatsa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Vocative (8th), Plural
śiva-nindāmblame of Śiva
śiva-nindām:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootśiva (प्रातिपदिक) + nindā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—'शिवस्य निन्दा'
su-dussahāmvery hard to bear
su-dussahām:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootsu (उपसर्ग/अव्यय-पूर्वपद) + dussaha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Accusative Singular; उपसर्ग-समासः—'अत्यन्तं दुस्सहा' qualifies 'nindām'
saṃpad-vināśa-rūpāmhaving the nature of destroying prosperity
saṃpad-vināśa-rūpām:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootsaṃpad (प्रातिपदिक) + vināśa (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Accusative Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—'संपदां विनाशस्य रूपा' (having the form of destruction of prosperity)
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction particle (समुच्चय-निपात)
vipadāmof calamities
vipadām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootvipad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Genitive (6th), Plural
bīja-rūpiṇīmhaving the form of a seed (source)
bīja-rūpiṇīm:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootbīja (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpiṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—'बीजस्य रूपिणी' (seed-form) qualifies 'nindām'

Brahma

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a specific liṅga-site; Brahmā’s refusal to engage in Śiva-nindā functions as dharma-śikṣā: speech against Śiva is itself a causal ‘seed’ (bīja) of vipad (calamity).

Significance: General: cultivating reverent speech and avoiding aparādha is presented as a prerequisite for auspiciousness (saṃpatti) and for receiving Śiva’s grace (anugraha).

S
Shiva
B
Brahma

FAQs

The verse teaches that Śiva-nindā (disparaging Śiva) is a grave aparādha: it destroys spiritual merit and worldly well-being, and it plants the karmic “seed” for future suffering—therefore a seeker should guard speech and cultivate reverence (bhakti) toward Pati, the Supreme Lord.

Linga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship is grounded in śraddhā and honor toward Śiva’s presence; this verse warns that contempt or ridicule toward Śiva (including His symbols like the Liṅga, vibhūti, and Rudrākṣa) reverses the fruits of worship and becomes an obstacle to grace (anugraha).

The practical takeaway is restraint of speech and daily bhakti: recite the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offer respectful pūjā to the Liṅga, and avoid aparādhas—especially on sacred observances like Mahāśivarātri.