Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

क्रोधाल्लोभाद्भयाद्द्वेषाद्ब्राह्मणस्य वधे तु यः । मर्मांतिकं महादोषमुक्त्वा स ब्रह्महा भवेत्

Transliteration

krodhāllobhādbhayāddveṣādbrāhmaṇasya vadhe tu yaḥ | marmāṃtikaṃ mahādoṣamuktvā sa brahmahā bhavet

Translation

Whoever, driven by anger, greed, fear, or hatred, kills a brāhmaṇa—thereby committing a grievous, heart‑piercing great sin—becomes a brahmahā (a slayer of a brāhmaṇa).

Word by Word

• क्रोधात्: from anger
• क्रोधात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krodha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• लोभात्: from greed
• लोभात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lobha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• भयात्: from fear
• भयात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• द्वेषात्: from hatred
• द्वेषात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dveṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ब्राह्मणस्य: of a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• वधे: in the killing
• वधे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun (यद्), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• मर्म-अन्तिकम्: vital/heart-piercing (lit. reaching the vital spot)
• मर्म-अन्तिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: marma (प्रातिपदिक) + antika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• महा-दोषम्: great fault/sin
• महा-दोषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + doṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound; Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• उक्त्वा: having uttered
• उक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय), ‘having said/uttered’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ब्रह्महा: Brahmin-slayer
• ब्रह्महा: Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahma-han (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound (object + agent: ब्रह्मणः हन्ता); Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Liṅ-lakāra (लिङ्/optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana (singular), Parasmaipada

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes dharmic boundary: brahmahatyā is mahāpātaka; avoidance and expiation are prerequisites for Śiva-bhakti and eligibility for temple worship.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahmana

FAQs

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

It warns that krodha (anger), lobha (greed), bhaya (fear), and dveṣa (hatred) are forms of pāśa (bondage) that can drive one into the gravest adharma; harming a brāhmaṇa is presented as a peak violation that deepens impurity and obstructs Shiva-realization.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is not merely external; it requires inner śuddhi (purity). This verse frames ethical restraint and non-violence as prerequisites for approaching Saguna Shiva with devotion, since hatred and aggression contradict the discipline expected of a Shiva-bhakta.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with repentance and self-restraint, supported by Shaiva disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and mindful control of anger and hatred through daily worship and meditation.