Shloka 20

Devanagari script

अंतर्भावप्रदुष्टस्य विशतोऽपि हुताशनम् । न स्वर्गो नापवर्गश्च देहनिर्दहनं परम्

Transliteration

aṃtarbhāvapraduṣṭasya viśato'pi hutāśanam | na svargo nāpavargaśca dehanirdahanaṃ param

Translation

For one whose inner disposition is corrupted, even entering the sacred fire yields no heaven and no liberation; it brings only the supreme burning—mere destruction of the body.

Word by Word

• अन्तर्भावप्रदुष्टस्य: of one whose inner disposition is corrupted
• अन्तर्भावप्रदुष्टस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तर्भाव-प्रदुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक); प्रदुष्ट = प्र+दुष् (कृदन्त)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (context-dependent); समासः—अन्तर्भावस्य प्रदुष्टः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• विशतः: of (him) entering
• विशतः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश् (धातु) → विशत् (शतृ-कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle); षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (context-dependent)

• अपि: even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-भाव

• हुताशनम्: fire (the consumer of offerings)
• हुताशनम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हुताशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासः—हुतं अश्नाति इति/हुतस्य अशनः (रूढि-समास, कर्मधारय-रूपेण)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• स्वर्गः: heaven
• स्वर्गः: कर्ता/विषय (Karta/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• न: nor
• न: सम्बन्ध (negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• अपवर्गः: liberation
• अपवर्गः: कर्ता/विषय (Karta/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपवर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• देहनिर्दहनम्: burning of the body
• देहनिर्दहनम्: कर्ता/विषय (Karta/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह-निर्दहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासः—देहस्य निर्दहनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• परम्: only/supreme (i.e., merely)
• परम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; it polemicizes against self-destructive ‘purification’ when inner corruption remains, denying both svarga and apavarga.

Significance: Warns that extreme external acts (even fire-entry) without inner śuddhi do not yield merit; redirects seekers toward ethical and devotional transformation.

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation is not produced by outward acts alone; when the inner being is polluted by pasha-like impurities (ego, desire, malice), even a powerful rite becomes spiritually barren, yielding only physical consequence, not svarga or moksha.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is effective when joined to bhakti and purity of intent; without inner devotion and surrender to Pati (Shiva), external offerings become mere form and do not mature into grace or liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prioritize inner purification alongside worship—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), dhyana on Shiva, and disciplined conduct; rites like homa should be performed with a cleansed heart rather than as empty ritual.