Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

अविबद्धप्रलापत्वमसत्यं चाप्रियं च यत् । परोक्षतश्च पैशुन्यं चतुर्द्धा कर्म वाचिकम्

Transliteration

avibaddhapralāpatvamasatyaṃ cāpriyaṃ ca yat | parokṣataśca paiśunyaṃ caturddhā karma vācikam

Translation

Verbal action is fourfold: (1) incoherent and purposeless speech, (2) falsehood, (3) harsh or unpleasant words, and (4) slander spoken behind another’s back.

Word by Word

• अविबद्धप्रलापत्वम्: idle/unchecked chatter (the state of babbling)
• अविबद्धप्रलापत्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविबद्ध-प्रलाप-त्व (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः; ‘त्व’ प्रत्ययान्त भाववाचक (abstract noun)

• असत्यम्: falsehood
• असत्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अप्रियम्: harsh/unpleasant speech
• अप्रियम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• यत्: which/that
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/relative link)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• परोक्षतः: in absence/behind the back
• परोक्षतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परोक्षतः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: ‘behind one’s back/indirectly’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पैशुन्यम्: slander/backbiting
• पैशुन्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पैशुन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• चतुर्धा: fourfold
• चतुर्धा: Visheshana (विशेषण/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चतुर्धा (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘in four ways’)

• कर्म: action/deed
• कर्म: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• वाचिकम्: verbal (of speech)
• वाचिकम्: Visheshya (विशेष्य/Qualifier of noun)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाचिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘कर्म’)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching on dharma and inner purification within the Umāsaṃhitā discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga account; continues the ethical taxonomy by defining vācika-karma (verbal acts) that bind the jīva and precipitate suffering.

Significance: Highlights that speech-purity is integral to Śiva-bhakti; tīrtha and temple merit is stabilized by satya, hita, and mita-vāk (truthful, beneficial, measured speech).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines four verbal faults that become pasha (bondage) for the soul; by restraining speech and aligning it with truth, kindness, and clarity, the seeker purifies the mind for Shiva-realization.

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

Linga-worship emphasizes inner and outer purity; guarding speech supports mantra-japa and devotion to Saguna Shiva, because slander, lies, and harshness disturb bhakti and the sanctity of worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice disciplined speech through mauna (measured silence) and steady japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—avoiding idle talk, falsehood, harsh speech, and backbiting, especially during vrata days like Mahashivratri.