Shloka 10
महापातकवर्णनम् (Mahāpātaka-varṇanam) — “Description of Great Sins and Their Consequences”
हरंति ये च संमूढाश्शिवज्ञानस्य पुस्तकम् । महांति पातकान्याहुरनन्तफलदानि षट्
haraṃti ye ca saṃmūḍhāśśivajñānasya pustakam | mahāṃti pātakānyāhuranantaphaladāni ṣaṭ
Those deluded persons who steal away the book that imparts the knowledge of Śiva are said to incur six grievous sins—sins that yield endless consequences.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; it protects śivajñāna-śāstra as a conduit of anugraha. Stealing it is framed as a major obstruction with long karmic tail.
Significance: Positions scripture and teaching-lineage as sacred ‘tīrtha’ in themselves; safeguarding texts is part of dharma supporting temple and pilgrimage culture.
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva-jñāna is sacred and liberating; to obstruct it by stealing the scripture is a grave offence that binds the soul through long-lasting karmic consequences.
Linga worship is sustained by right understanding (śiva-jñāna) transmitted through scripture and guru; harming that transmission is treated as a major adharma against Saguna Shiva’s revealed path.
It implies dharmic preservation and donation of Shaiva texts (śāstra-dāna), along with regular study/recitation and remembrance of Shiva through mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī.