Shloka 16

Devanagari script

स गच्छेदथ शैलेशमात्मनिन्दां करोतु वै । परनिन्दा विनाशाय स्वनिन्दा यशसे मता

Transliteration

sa gacchedatha śaileśamātmanindāṃ karotu vai | paranindā vināśāya svanindā yaśase matā

Translation

Then he should go to Śaileśa (Lord Śiva, the Lord of the mountain) and indeed practice self-criticism. Criticizing others leads to ruin, whereas self-reproach is regarded as a cause of true honor and good repute.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• gacchet: should go
• gacchet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (particle: then/now)

• śaileśam: Śaileśa (lord of the mountain)
• śaileśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaila (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘शैलस्य ईशः’ (lord of the mountain); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ātma-nindām: self-blame
• ātma-nindām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + nindā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘आत्मनः निन्दा’ (self-censure); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• karotu: let him do
• karotu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• para-nindā: censure of others
• para-nindā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + nindā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘परस्य निन्दा’ (blaming others); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• vināśāya: for destruction
• vināśāya: Sampradāna/Purpose (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vināśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• sva-nindā: self-blame
• sva-nindā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + nindā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘स्वस्य निन्दा’ (self-censure); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• yaśase: for fame
• yaśase: Sampradāna/Purpose (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• matā: is considered
• matā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु) + ta (क्त, Kta)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); ‘मनीते’ इत्यर्थे—‘considered/held as’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: The ethical teaching—avoid para-nindā and cultivate humility—functions as a ‘tīrtha of conduct’ (ācāra), a prerequisite for fruitful darśana and grace in any Śiva-kṣetra.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that ego-driven speech—especially blaming others—strengthens bondage (pāśa) and leads to spiritual decline, while honest self-examination purifies the heart and supports devotion to Pati (Śiva).

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

Approaching Śaileśa (Saguna Śiva) implies taking refuge in Śiva with humility; Linga-worship is meant to dissolve pride and cultivate inner purity, so the devotee restrains fault-finding and turns inward for correction.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice daily self-review before Śiva—confess faults mentally, resolve to avoid harsh speech, and repeat the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a vow of non-slander (apar-nindā).