Shloka 20

Devanagari script

स्त्रीजितस्पर्शमात्रेण सर्वं पुण्यं प्रणश्यति । स्त्रीजितः परपापी च तद्दर्शनमघावहम्

Transliteration

strījitasparśamātreṇa sarvaṃ puṇyaṃ praṇaśyati | strījitaḥ parapāpī ca taddarśanamaghāvaham

Translation

By the mere touch of one conquered by lust for women, all accumulated merit is said to perish. Such a man becomes a grievous sinner toward others, and even the sight of him is regarded as a bringer of sin.

Word by Word

• स्त्री-जित-स्पर्श-मात्रेण: by mere touch of one woman-subdued
• स्त्री-जित-स्पर्श-मात्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + जित (कृदन्त; √जि) + स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः—‘स्त्रिया जितस्य स्पर्शस्य मात्रेण’ (by the mere touch of one conquered by a woman)

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र ‘पुण्यम्’ विशेषणम् (qualifier of puṇya)

• पुण्यम्: merit/virtue
• पुण्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; कर्तृ-स्थाने (subject)

• प्रणश्यति: perishes/is destroyed
• प्रणश्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; प्र√नश् = to perish/be destroyed

• स्त्री-जितः: one conquered by a woman
• स्त्री-जितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + जित (कृदन्त; √जि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (स्त्रिया जितः = one conquered by a woman)

• पर-पापी: very sinful
• पर-पापी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + पापिन्/पापी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (परः पापी = very sinful/evil)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• तत्-दर्शनम्: the sight of him/that
• तत्-दर्शनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तस्य दर्शनम् = seeing him/that sight)

• अघ-आवहम्: bringing sin/inauspicious
• अघ-आवहम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अघ (प्रातिपदिक) + आवह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (अघम् आवहति इति = bringing sin)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purāṇic teaching to the sages, within the Pārvatīkhaṇḍa context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

FAQs

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

The verse warns that kama (lust) functions as a pasha—an inner bond that degrades discernment and erodes spiritual merit. In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, impurity of intention obstructs Shiva-anugraha (grace) and weakens one’s fitness for mantra, worship, and dharma.

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

Linga worship emphasizes inner and outer śauca (purity) and steadiness of mind. The teaching frames uncontrolled lust as a direct obstacle to focused bhakti and proper upacāra, because the mind becomes outward-pulled and unfit to contemplate Saguna Shiva with reverence and restraint.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied takeaway is indriya-nigraha (sense-restraint) supported by japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), sattvic discipline, and maintaining devotional purity before worship—often paired in Shaiva practice with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and regular japa as aids to steadiness.