Shloka 23

पापभेदवर्णनम्

Classification of Sins / Taxonomy of Pāpa

Devanagari script

लज्जाश्रमप्रासादेषु मयपानरताश्च ये । कृतकेलिभुजंगाश्च रन्ध्रान्वेषणतत्पराः

Transliteration

lajjāśramaprāsādeṣu mayapānaratāśca ye | kṛtakelibhujaṃgāśca randhrānveṣaṇatatparāḥ

Translation

And those who, in the mansions of Lajjā and Śrama, are absorbed in intoxicating drink; who, as part of their sport, play with serpents; and who remain intent on seeking out others’ weak points and openings—such indeed are they.

Word by Word

• lajjā-āśrama-prāsādeṣu: in (places like) modesty, hermitages, and palaces
• lajjā-āśrama-prāsādeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lajjā (प्रातिपदिक) + āśrama (प्रातिपदिक) + prāsāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वसमासः, अधिकरण

• maya-pāna-ratāḥ: delighting in drinking intoxicants
• maya-pāna-ratāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maya (प्रातिपदिक) + pāna (प्रातिपदिक) + rata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; ‘मयपाने रताः’ इति सप्तमी/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः; विशेषणम्

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

• ye: who (those who)
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• kṛta-keli-bhujaṃgāḥ: (those) like snakes in playful acts / playful serpents (metaphor)
• kṛta-keli-bhujaṃgāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛta (कृ धातोः क्त-प्रत्यय, कृदन्त) + keli (प्रातिपदिक) + bhujaṃga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; ‘कृतकेलयः’ इति कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः + ‘भुजंग’ उपमान/विशेष्य; समस्तपदम्

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

• randhra-anveṣaṇa-tatparāḥ: intent on searching for faults/loopholes
• randhra-anveṣaṇa-tatparāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: randhra (प्रातिपदिक) + anveṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + tatpara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; ‘रन्ध्रान्वेषणे तत्पराः’ इति षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष-प्रायः; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Depicts behaviors (intoxication, reckless play, fault-finding) that disturb śauca and sāttvika-bhāva; such doṣas are obstacles to temple discipline and to receiving anugraha.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights tamasic distractions—intoxication, reckless amusements, and fault-finding—that tighten pāśa (bondage) and obstruct the soul’s purification needed for Śiva-realization.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is not merely external; it requires inner śauca (purity) and restraint. Indulgence and seeking others’ ‘randhra’ contradict the devotional temperament that makes Saguna Śiva worship fruitful.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice sobriety and sense-restraint alongside daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), with simple pūjā and ash-marking (Tripuṇḍra) as reminders to abandon tamasic habits.