Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

यश्च विद्याभिमानेन निस्तेजयति सुद्विजम् । उदासीनं सभामध्ये ब्रह्महा स प्रकीर्तितः

Transliteration

yaśca vidyābhimānena nistejayati sudvijam | udāsīnaṃ sabhāmadhye brahmahā sa prakīrtitaḥ

Translation

He who, out of pride in his learning, humiliates a truly virtuous brāhmaṇa sitting quietly in the midst of an assembly—such a man is declared a brahmahā, guilty of the gravest sin.

Word by Word

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

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)

• विद्या-अभिमानेन: by pride in learning
• विद्या-अभिमानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक) + abhimāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• निस्तेजयति: dishonors/dims the splendor of
• निस्तेजयति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nis + tej (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana (singular), Parasmaipada; causative stem (णिच्) ‘makes (someone) lose luster/insults’

• सु-द्विजम्: a good Brahmin (good ‘twice-born’)
• सु-द्विजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-सदृश) + dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound; Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• उदासीनम्: indifferent/neutral (one)
• उदासीनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udāsīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• सभा-मध्ये: in the middle of the assembly
• सभा-मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sabhā (प्रातिपदिक) + madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

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

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

• प्रकीर्तितः: is proclaimed/called
• प्रकीर्तितः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + kīrt (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (कृत्: क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; passive sense ‘is proclaimed’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages, Umāsaṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Warns that vidyā-abhimāna (pride of learning) that shames the quiet virtuous is spiritually equivalent to brahmahatyā; humility is framed as a prerequisite for receiving Śiva’s anugraha.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

The verse identifies vidyā-abhimāna (pride in learning) as a grave spiritual fault: humiliating a quiet, virtuous brāhmaṇa is treated as brahma-hatyā because it destroys dharma, injures sattva, and strengthens the ego that binds the soul (paśu) under pāśa, obstructing Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

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 demands inner purity and humility. Disrespecting the worthy while performing pūjā contradicts devotion to Saguna Shiva, because honoring Shiva includes honoring dharma and the carriers of sacred knowledge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice restraint of speech (mauna/saṃyama) and humility before reciting the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya); offer respectful prostration and service to teachers and learned devotees, using vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and japa as reminders to dissolve ego rather than display scholarship.