Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

दीनसर्वस्वहरणं नरस्त्रीगजवाजिनाम् । गोभूरजतवस्त्राणामौषधीनां रसस्य च

Transliteration

dīnasarvasvaharaṇaṃ narastrīgajavājinām | gobhūrajatavastrāṇāmauṣadhīnāṃ rasasya ca

Translation

It is the plundering of the entire livelihood of the helpless—of men and women, elephants and horses; and likewise the seizure of cows, land, silver, garments, medicines, and even their essences.

Word by Word

• dīna-sarvasva-haraṇam: seizure of the poor person’s entire property
• dīna-sarvasva-haraṇam: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīna (दीन प्रातिपदिक) + sarvasva (सर्वस्व प्रातिपदिक) + haraṇa (हरण प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā-vibhakti (प्रथमा/nominative, case 1), Eka-vacana (एकवचन); multi-member tatpuruṣa: dīnasya sarvasvasya haraṇam (‘the taking of the entire property of the poor’)

• nara-strī-gaja-vājinām: of men, women, elephants, and horses
• nara-strī-gaja-vājinām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (नर) + strī (स्त्री) + gaja (गज) + vājin (वाजिन्) (all प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti (षष्ठी/genitive, case 6), Bahu-vacana (बहुवचन); dvandva compound enumerating ‘men, women, elephants, horses’

• go-bhū-rajata-vastrāṇām: of cows, land, silver, and garments
• go-bhū-rajata-vastrāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (गो) + bhū (भू) + rajata (रजत) + vastra (वस्त्र) (all प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti (षष्ठी/genitive, case 6), Bahu-vacana (बहुवचन); dvandva compound enumerating ‘cows, land, silver, garments’

• auṣadhīnām: of medicinal herbs
• auṣadhīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: auṣadhī (औषधी प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti (षष्ठी/genitive, case 6), Bahu-vacana (बहुवचन)

• rasasya: of juice / essence
• rasasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rasa (रस प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti (षष्ठी/genitive, case 6), Eka-vacana (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Catalog of exploitative thefts: taking the ‘sarvasva’ of the dīna (helpless) is portrayed as a major adharma that deepens bondage; it is tirodhāna-like in effect—concealing compassion and dharma-vision.

Significance: Teaches pilgrims that Śiva’s path requires dayā and non-exploitation; plundering livelihood obstructs śuddhi and blocks anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā

Role: nurturing

FAQs

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

The verse defines grave adharma as the forcible taking of life-supporting resources from the vulnerable; in Shaiva Siddhanta such harm strengthens pāśa (bondage) through demerit and obstructs the soul’s movement toward Shiva’s grace.

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

Linga-worship is inseparable from dharma: devotion to Saguna Shiva is validated by compassion and non-injury in conduct; plundering others—especially the helpless—contradicts the purity and restraint expected of a Shiva-bhakta.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice self-restraint (yama), truthful livelihood, and charitable giving; accompany Shiva worship with repentance for harm done and a resolve to protect others’ sustenance—supporting inner purification alongside mantra and pūjā.