Shloka 51
Jaṭilāvatāra-Parīkṣā: Pārvatyāḥ Tapasāṃ Parīkṣaṇam
The Jaṭilā Episode and the Testing of Pārvatī’s Austerity
अयन्दुष्टः पुनर्निंदां करिष्यति शिवस्य हि । ब्राह्मणत्वादवध्यश्च त्याज्योऽदृश्यश्च सर्वथा
ayanduṣṭaḥ punarniṃdāṃ kariṣyati śivasya hi | brāhmaṇatvādavadhyaśca tyājyo'dṛśyaśca sarvathā
“This wicked man will indeed again commit blasphemy of Śiva. Yet, because he is a brāhmaṇa, he is not to be slain; rather, he must be completely renounced and kept out of sight in every way.”
Suta Goswami (narrating the Śiva Purāṇa teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya; verse conveys the scripture’s injunction about dealing with a Śiva-blasphemer)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Significance: Balances dharma (non-violence toward a brāhmaṇa) with bhakti-protection (total avoidance). The pilgrim ethic is: do not retaliate unlawfully; instead, withdraw and refuse contact to prevent spread of pāśa through nindā.
FAQs
It teaches that Śiva-nindā is a grave spiritual offense that harms the offender and the community; the proper response is to protect dharma—avoid enabling the offense—while refraining from adharmic retaliation.
Linga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship is rooted in reverence (bhakti) and purity of speech; this verse warns that contempt toward Śiva undermines devotion and therefore the very foundation of Linga-upāsanā.
Practice restraint of speech (vāk-saṁyama) and strengthen Śiva-bhakti through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), while avoiding the company and hearing of persistent blasphemy.