Shloka 21

पापभेदवर्णनम्

Classification of Sins / Taxonomy of Pāpa

Devanagari script

ये पापनिरताः क्रूराः येऽपि हिंसाप्रिया नराः । वृत्त्यर्थं येऽपि कुर्वंति दानयज्ञादिकाः क्रियाः

Transliteration

ye pāpaniratāḥ krūrāḥ ye'pi hiṃsāpriyā narāḥ | vṛttyarthaṃ ye'pi kurvaṃti dānayajñādikāḥ kriyāḥ

Translation

Aun esos hombres entregados al pecado, crueles y amantes de la violencia—y también quienes realizan actos como la caridad y el sacrificio sólo por sustento—permanecen atados, pues tales obras carecen de verdadera devoción y de pureza de intención.

Word by Word

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय

• पापनिरताः: engaged in sin
• पापनिरताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप + निरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पापे निरताः)

• क्रूराः: cruel
• क्रूराः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थक निपात (particle: also/even)

• हिंसाप्रियाः: fond of violence
• हिंसाप्रियाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हिंसा + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (हिंसां प्रियं येषां ते)

• नराः: men
• नराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• वृत्त्यर्थम्: for livelihood
• वृत्त्यर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वृत्ति + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (for the sake of livelihood)

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• कुर्वन्ति: do/perform
• कुर्वन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• दानयज्ञादिकाः: such as gifts and sacrifices
• दानयज्ञादिकाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान + यज्ञ + आदि + क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दान-यज्ञ-आदि = charity, sacrifice, etc.; तदादयः)

• क्रियाः: rites/actions
• क्रियाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching Uma/Parvati in the Umāsaṃhitā discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Warns against instrumentalizing dāna/yajña for livelihood or reputation; without śuddha-bhāva such acts do not cut pāśa, hence pilgrimage/ritual must be joined to inner transformation.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It stresses that outer dharma—like dāna and yajña—does not become spiritually purifying when driven by sinful conduct or selfish motive; in Shaiva thought, intention, purity, and devotion to Pati (Shiva) determine whether karma loosens bondage (pāśa).

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

Linga/Saguna Shiva worship is meant to transform the heart through bhakti and inner restraint; this verse cautions that ritual acts done as mere social display or livelihood, without turning toward Shiva with sincerity, fail to yield the deeper grace associated with true worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice charity and worship with śuddha-bhāva (pure intent), supported by ahimsa and repentance; combine daily Shiva-smaraṇa (remembrance) and japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—so actions become offerings rather than transactions.