Shloka 11

महापातकवर्णनम् (Mahāpātaka-varṇanam) — “Description of Great Sins and Their Consequences”

Devanagari script

नाभिनन्दंति ये दृष्ट्वा शिवपूजां प्रकल्पिताम् । न नमंत्यर्चितं दृष्ट्वा शिवलिंगं स्तुवंति न

Transliteration

nābhinandaṃti ye dṛṣṭvā śivapūjāṃ prakalpitām | na namaṃtyarcitaṃ dṛṣṭvā śivaliṃgaṃ stuvaṃti na

Translation

Those who, on seeing Śiva’s worship duly arranged, do not rejoice; who, on seeing the worshipped Śiva-liṅga, do not bow; and who do not offer praise—such people remain devoid of devotion and reverence toward the Lord.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-avyaya (negation particle/निषेध-अव्यय)

• abhinandanti: they rejoice / approve
• abhinandanti: Kriyā (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√nand (नन्द्)
• Form: Laṭ (Present/लट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन)

• ye: who
• ye: Kartā (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक; relative pronoun/यद्)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा) Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √dṛś (दृश्)
• Form: Ktvānta (absolutive/क्त्वान्त), pūrva-kāla-kriyā (prior action)

• śiva-pūjām: Śiva-worship
• śiva-pūjām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (Accusative/द्वितीया) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: śivasya pūjā

• prakalpitām: arranged / prepared
• prakalpitām: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prakalpita (कृदन्त; pra-√kḷp कल्प्)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (Accusative/द्वितīyā) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); past passive participle, agrees with śiva-pūjām

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-avyaya (negation particle/निषेध-अव्यय)

• namanti: they bow
• namanti: Kriyā (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nam (नम्)
• Form: Laṭ (Present/लट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन)

• arcitam: worshipped
• arcitam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arcita (कृदन्त; √arc अर्च्)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (Accusative/द्वितीया) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); past passive participle used substantively; refers to śivaliṅgam

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √dṛś (दृश्)
• Form: Ktvānta (absolutive/क्त्वान्त), pūrva-kāla-kriyā (prior action)

• śiva-liṅgam: Śiva-liṅga
• śiva-liṅgam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (Accusative/द्वितīyā) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: śivasya liṅgam

• stuvanti: they praise
• stuvanti: Kriyā (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √stu (स्तु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present/लट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-avyaya (negation particle/निषेध-अव्यय)

Speaker

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

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General temple-darśana teaching: proper response to seeing arranged pūjā and an arcita-liṅga is ānanda, namaskāra, and stuti; indifference signals continued bondage.

Significance: Defines the inner mark of pilgrimage: darśana should evoke humility (namas), joy (abhinandana), and praise (stuti), which ripen bhakti and receptivity to grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shiva-linga

FAQs

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

It defines basic marks of Shaiva bhakti: heartfelt joy at seeing Shiva-puja, humility expressed through bowing, and devotion expressed through praise—inner reverence that supports grace (anugraha) and spiritual uplift.

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

The verse emphasizes proper response to Śiva-liṅga darśana: the liṅga is a sacred Saguna focus through which devotees approach the transcendent Shiva; bowing and stuti are affirmed as essential devotional engagements.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

During liṅga-darśana and puja, cultivate bhāva: offer namaskāra, recite Śiva-stuti, and mentally repeat the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with reverence, rather than remaining indifferent.