Shloka 26

पापभेदवर्णनम्

Classification of Sins / Taxonomy of Pāpa

Devanagari script

धनुषः शस्त्रशल्यानां कर्ता यः क्रयविक्रयी । निर्द्दयोऽतीवभृत्येषु पशूनां दमनश्च यः

Transliteration

dhanuṣaḥ śastraśalyānāṃ kartā yaḥ krayavikrayī | nirddayo'tīvabhṛtyeṣu paśūnāṃ damanaśca yaḥ

Translation

He who manufactures bows and weapons and lives by buying and selling them; who is exceedingly merciless toward servants, and who also subdues and torments animals—such a one bears grievous sin.

Word by Word

• धनुषः: of a bow
• धनुषः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• शस्त्रशल्यानाम्: of weapons and arrow-heads/points
• शस्त्रशल्यानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śastra + śalya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास: शस्त्राणि च शल्यानि च; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• कर्ता: maker
• कर्ता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; relative pronoun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• क्रयविक्रयी: buyer and seller / trader
• क्रयविक्रयी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kraya + vikraya + in (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास: क्रयः च विक्रयः च; तद्वत् (possessor) 'क्रयविक्रयी' (one engaged in buying and selling); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• निर्द्दयः: merciless
• निर्द्दयः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying implied subject 'यः')

• अतीवभृत्येषु: towards/among servants excessively (i.e., very harsh to servants)
• अतीवभृत्येषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atīva + bhṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (avyaya-pūrvapada): अतीव (indeclinable intensifier) + भृत्य; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), बहुवचन

• पशूनाम्: of animals
• पशूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paśu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• दमनः: subduer / one who tames
• दमनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; appositional to यः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: damana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भाववाचक/कर्तृवाचक (act/agent noun)

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

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (पुनरुक्ति for listing)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how cruelty and violence-as-a-livelihood strengthen pāśa (bondage) for the paśu (bound soul), obstructing the Shaiva path of purification and liberation under Pati (Shiva).

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

Linga worship in the Shiva Purana is tied to inner cleansing; this verse points to behaviors—mercilessness, harming dependents, and oppressing animals—that contradict devotion and must be renounced or atoned for to approach Saguna Shiva with purity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt ahimsa and repentance, then steady the mind with Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and, where appropriate, Shiva-oriented purificatory observances (fasting on Mahashivratri, Tripundra/Bhasma with devotion) to weaken karmic bondage.