Shloka 14

पापभेदवर्णनम्

Classification of Sins / Taxonomy of Pāpa

Devanagari script

पर्वकाले दिवा वाप्सु वियोनौ पशुयोनिषु । रजस्वलाया योनौ च मैथुनं यः समाचरेत्

Transliteration

parvakāle divā vāpsu viyonau paśuyoniṣu | rajasvalāyā yonau ca maithunaṃ yaḥ samācaret

Translation

Whoever engages in sexual union during forbidden periods, in daytime, in water, in an improper place, with animals, or with a menstruating woman—acts contrary to dharma and increases bondage (pāśa) rather than moving toward Śiva’s liberating grace.

Word by Word

• पर्वकाले: at the time of a festival/holy day
• पर्वकाले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वकाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पर्वणः कालः)

• दिवा: by day
• दिवा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दिवा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time: 'by day')

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात

• अप्सु: in water
• अप्सु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/स्थान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन

• वियोनौ: in an improper/unnatural place (womb)
• वियोनौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/स्थान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वियोनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (विकृता/विरुद्धा योनि: 'improper womb')

• पशुयोनिषु: in animal wombs/species
• पशुयोनिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/स्थान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (पशूनां योनिषु)

• रजस्वलायाः: of a menstruating woman
• रजस्वलायाः: Sambandha (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रजस्वला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• योनौ: in the womb/vagina
• योनौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/स्थान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• मैथुनम्: sexual intercourse
• मैथुनम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैथुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• यः: who (he who)
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• समाचरेत्: should practice/perform
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Ethical restraint (yama/niyama) is framed as reducing pāśa (bondage) and making the aspirant fit for Śiva’s anugraha; the verse functions as a dharma-guardrail rather than a site-specific tīrtha teaching.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse frames sexual discipline as part of dharmic purity: actions done in forbidden contexts strengthen pāśa (bondage) over the paśu (individual soul), obstructing steadiness of mind needed to receive Pati (Śiva)’s grace.

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

Linga-worship emphasizes śauca (purity) and niyama (restraint). By avoiding prohibited conduct, the devotee preserves inner and outer purity, making japa of Om Namaḥ Śivāya and Linga-upāsanā more sattvic and spiritually effective.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt niyama: maintain purity and self-control, and redirect energy into daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of vairāgya and Śiva-oriented living.