Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

शिवनिन्दा गुरोर्निन्दा शिवज्ञानस्य दूषणम् । देवद्रव्यापहरणं द्विजद्रव्यविनाशनम्

Transliteration

śivanindā gurornindā śivajñānasya dūṣaṇam | devadravyāpaharaṇaṃ dvijadravyavināśanam

Translation

Slandering Śiva, reviling one’s guru, disparaging the knowledge of Śiva, stealing what belongs to the Devas (temple and sacred property), and destroying the property of the dvija (the twice-born)—these are grave transgressions that obstruct the Śaiva path and the rise of right devotion.

Word by Word

• śiva-nindā: censure of Śiva
• śiva-nindā: Kartā (Topic/कर्ता-स्थानी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + nindā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: śivasya nindā

• guroḥ: of the guru
• guroḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/षष्ठी) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• nindā: censure
• nindā: Kartā (Topic/कर्ता-स्थानी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nindā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• śiva-jñānasya: of Śiva-knowledge
• śiva-jñānasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/षष्ठी) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: śivasya jñānam

• dūṣaṇam: defilement / disparagement
• dūṣaṇam: Kartā (Topic/कर्ता-स्थानी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक; from √dūṣ दूष्)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• deva-dravya-apaharaṇam: stealing of temple/god’s property
• deva-dravya-apaharaṇam: Kartā (Topic/कर्ता-स्थानी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + dravya (प्रातिपदिक) + apaharaṇa (प्रातिपदिक; from apa-√hṛ हर्)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); tatpuruṣa chain: devasya dravyam → devadravyam; tasya apaharaṇam

• dvija-dravya-vināśanam: destruction of a Brahmin’s property
• dvija-dravya-vināśanam: Kartā (Topic/कर्ता-स्थानी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + dravya (प्रातिपदिक) + vināśana (प्रातिपदिक; from vi-√naś नश्)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); tatpuruṣa chain: dvijasya dravyam; tasya vināśanam

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Uma Samhita’s instruction to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a sthala-specific passage; it lays down general Śaiva ethical prohibitions (aparādha) that protect temple, guru, and śāstra as vehicles of Śiva’s grace.

Significance: Frames pilgrimage/temple life as dharma guarded by non-injury to sacred institutions (deva-dravya, guru, śāstra); avoiding these offences is prerequisite for śivabhakti to mature.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru
• Devas
• Dvijas

FAQs

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

It defines key Shaiva-aparādhas (spiritual offences): insulting Śiva, the guru, and Śiva-knowledge, and violating sacred/ethical stewardship. Such acts harden impurity (mala) and strengthen bondage (pāśa), obstructing bhakti and grace (anugraha).

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

Linga-worship depends on śraddhā and reverence for the deity, the guru-lineage, and Shaiva teaching. Stealing from temples or despising Śiva-jnāna undermines the sanctity of pūjā and severs the devotional attitude needed for Saguna Śiva worship to bear fruit.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice aparādha-bhaya and aparādha-kṣamā: maintain purity in temple service, protect sacred offerings, honor the guru, and steady the mind in japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a corrective discipline.