Shloka 49
पापभेदवर्णनम्
Classification of Sins / Taxonomy of Pāpa
और्ण्णकार्पासकौशेयपट्टसूत्रोद्भवानि च । स्थूलसूक्ष्माणि वस्त्राणि ये लोभाद्धि हरंति च
aurṇṇakārpāsakauśeyapaṭṭasūtrodbhavāni ca | sthūlasūkṣmāṇi vastrāṇi ye lobhāddhi haraṃti ca
And those who, out of greed, steal garments—whether made of wool, cotton, silk, fine cloth, or thread, whether coarse or delicate—indeed commit a blameworthy act that binds the soul through karma.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana’s ethical teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pasha
FAQs
The verse highlights lobha (greed) as a pasha (bond) that drives adharma like theft; such acts thicken karmic impurity and obstruct the soul’s turning toward Shiva, the Pati who alone grants release.
Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is grounded in inner and outer purity—truthfulness, non-stealing, and restraint. Stealing out of greed contradicts the devotional discipline (bhakti with dharma) required to approach Saguna Shiva with a purified heart.
Practice non-stealing (asteya) as a vrata, confess and renounce greed, and support it with daily Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple Shiva worship (water/abhisheka) as acts of purification and reorientation toward dharma.