Shloka 25

पापभेदवर्णनम्

Classification of Sins / Taxonomy of Pāpa

Devanagari script

कूटशासनकर्तारः कूटकर्मक्रियारताः । कूटपाकान्नवस्त्राणां कूटसंव्यवहारिणः

Transliteration

kūṭaśāsanakartāraḥ kūṭakarmakriyāratāḥ | kūṭapākānnavastrāṇāṃ kūṭasaṃvyavahāriṇaḥ

Translation

They are makers of fraudulent decrees, absorbed in deceitful acts and practices; they trade in counterfeit cooked food and clothing, and they conduct every transaction through trickery and falsehood.

Word by Word

• कूटशासनकर्तारः: makers of false orders/decrees
• कूटशासनकर्तारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kūṭa + śāsana + kartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास: कूटं शासनं यस्य/येन तत् (false decree/order) + कर्तृ; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• कूटकर्मक्रियारताः: engaged in fraudulent acts
• कूटकर्मक्रियारताः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kūṭa + karma + kriyā + rata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: कूटकर्मणि क्रियायां रताः (devoted to actions of false deeds); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of same group)

• कूटपाकान्नवस्त्राणाम्: of fraudulent cooking, food, and garments
• कूटपाकान्नवस्त्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kūṭa + pāka + anna + vastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective copulative): कूटपाकं च अन्नं च वस्त्रं च (fraudulent cooking/processing, food, and clothes); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार), षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• कूटसंव्यवहारिणः: those who transact deceitfully
• कूटसंव्यवहारिणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kūṭa + saṃvyavahārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: कूटे (fraud) संव्यवहारिणः (dealers/engagers); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse condemns deceit in governance and daily livelihood as a form of adharma that strengthens pāśa (bondage). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, such crooked conduct thickens karmic impurity and obstructs the soul’s movement toward Shiva (Pati).

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

Linga-worship is grounded in inner and outer purity—truthfulness, non-deception, and righteous livelihood. This verse highlights behaviors that contradict Shiva’s dharmic order; devotion to Saguna Shiva is meant to reform conduct, not merely perform ritual externally.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is self-examination (ātma-parīkṣā) before japa and pūjā: renounce fraudulent dealings, then perform Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with sincerity; apply Tripuṇḍra and wear Rudrāksha as reminders to live truthfully.