Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

पुत्रमित्रकलत्रेषु गमनं भगिनीषु च । कुमारीसाहसं घोरमद्यपस्त्रीनिषेवणम्

Transliteration

putramitrakalatreṣu gamanaṃ bhaginīṣu ca | kumārīsāhasaṃ ghoramadyapastrīniṣevaṇam

Translation

Sexual transgression—approaching the wives of one’s son or friends, or even one’s own sister—together with violating a maiden, and the dreadful habit of drinking liquor and consorting with a fallen woman: these are condemned as grave, binding sins that intensify pāśa (bondage) and obstruct the soul’s turning toward Śiva.

Word by Word

• पुत्र-मित्र-कलत्रेषु: among sons, friends, and wives
• पुत्र-मित्र-कलत्रेषु: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कलत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; ‘among sons, friends, and wives’

• गमनम्: going/approaching
• गमनम्: कर्ता/विषय (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ल्युट्-प्रत्ययान्त भाव/क्रियावाचक-नाम (act of going/sexual approach)

• भगिनीषु: among sisters
• भगिनीषु: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कुमारी-साहसम्: outrage against a maiden
• कुमारी-साहसम्: विषय (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमारी (प्रातिपदिक) + साहस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कुमार्याः साहसम्)

• घोरम्: terrible
• घोरम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying the following compound)

• मद्यप-स्त्री-निषेवणम्: consorting with a liquor-drinking woman
• मद्यप-स्त्री-निषेवणम्: विषय (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद्यप (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + नि + सेव् (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘मद्यपस्त्री’ (a woman who drinks liquor) + ‘निषेवण’ (सेव् धातोः ल्युट्) = ‘consorting with…’

Speaker

Lord Shiva (instructing Uma/Parvati in the Umāsaṃhitā’s ethical and spiritual discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse functions as dharma-śikṣā (ethical instruction) within Umāsaṃhitā, mapping adharma to intensified pāśa (bondage).

Significance: General: purity of conduct (ācāra-śuddhi) is presented as a prerequisite for Śiva-bhakti and for eligibility for mantra/pujā; transgression thickens mala and karmic fetters.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It warns that severe sexual misconduct and intoxication deepen pāśa (bondage), agitate the mind, and block the jīva’s purification needed for steady Shiva-bhakti and liberation.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is linked with inner and outer purity; such transgressions contradict the discipline (niyama) that supports sincere devotion to Saguna Shiva and receptivity to Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is restraint and repentance: adopt vrata-like self-control, repeat the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a purified intention, and maintain a sāttvika life supportive of japa and dhyāna.