Shloka 24

Devanagari script

पश्यंतोऽपि न पश्यंति शृण्वाना बधिरा यथा । यथांधा मानुषा लोके मूढाः पापविमोहिताः

Transliteration

paśyaṃto'pi na paśyaṃti śṛṇvānā badhirā yathā | yathāṃdhā mānuṣā loke mūḍhāḥ pāpavimohitāḥ

Translation

Bien qu’ils aient des yeux, ils ne voient pas vraiment ; bien qu’ils entendent, ils sont comme des sourds. Tels des aveugles dans le monde, ces hommes, fous et abusés, ont l’intelligence voilée par le péché, incapables de reconnaître le Seigneur (Pati) et la voie qui tranche les liens (pāśa).

Word by Word

पश्यन्तःseeing (though)

अपिeven/though

नnot

पश्यन्तिthey see

शृण्वानाःhearing (though)

बधिराःdeaf

यथाas/like

अन्धाःblind

मानुषाःpeople/humans

लोकेin the world

मूढाःdeluded/foolish

पापविमोहिताःbewildered by sin

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a shrine; it is an ethical-gnostic diagnosis: pāpa and moha function as pāśa, producing spiritual blindness.

Significance: Prompts repentance (prāyaścitta), purification, and turning toward Śiva’s anugraha as the cure for blindness of pāśa.

Characters & Entities

Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that mere physical senses are insufficient for spiritual knowledge; sin and delusion create inner blindness and deafness, preventing recognition of Shiva (Pati) and the liberating way beyond bondage (pāśa).

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

Linga/Saguna worship trains perception: through reverent darśana, pūjā, and remembrance, the devotee’s inner faculties become purified so that Shiva is ‘seen’ not only as an object of sight but as the indwelling Lord beyond delusion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Purifying practice is implied: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), sincere confession and restraint from pāpa, and steady dhyāna on Shiva to remove inner blindness and restore right discernment.