Shloka 21
भक्तिभेदाः—ज्ञानप्रधानभक्तेः प्रशंसा
Grades of Devotees and the Praise of Knowledge-Centered Devotion
हरिभक्तो हि मां निन्देत्तथा शैवोभवे द्यदि । तयोः शापा भवेयुस्ते तत्त्वप्राप्तिर्भवेन्न हि
haribhakto hi māṃ nindettathā śaivobhave dyadi | tayoḥ śāpā bhaveyuste tattvaprāptirbhavenna hi
If a devotee of Hari (Viṣṇu) were to disparage Me, or if a devotee of Śiva were to become one who disparages Hari, then the curses they incur would indeed take effect; for such a person, realization of the supreme Truth does not arise.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
FAQs
It teaches that sectarian contempt (nindā) toward Śiva or Hari is a spiritual offense that obstructs tattva-prāpti—true realization and liberation—because it violates devotion, humility, and the recognition of the one supreme reality revealed through divine forms.
Linga/Saguṇa worship is meant to mature bhakti into knowledge of the highest truth; if one worships yet disparages another divine form (especially Hari), the worship becomes tainted by aparādha, preventing the inner fruit of Linga-upāsanā—purity and realization.
Practice respectful, non-sectarian bhakti: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), apply Tripuṇḍra with reverence, and maintain restraint of speech (vāṅ-niyama) by avoiding nindā of any deity—especially Śiva and Hari.