Shloka 22

पापभेदवर्णनम्

Classification of Sins / Taxonomy of Pāpa

Devanagari script

गोष्ठाग्निजलरथ्यासु तरुच्छाया नगेषु च । त्यजंति ये पुरीषाद्यानारामायतनेषु च

Transliteration

goṣṭhāgnijalarathyāsu tarucchāyā nageṣu ca | tyajaṃti ye purīṣādyānārāmāyataneṣu ca

Translation

जो गोशाला में, अग्नि के निकट, जल में, सार्वजनिक मार्ग पर, वृक्षों की छाया में अथवा पर्वतों पर—मल-मूत्र आदि त्यागने से विरत रहते हैं; और उद्यानों तथा देवालय-परिसरों में भी ऐसा न करते—वे शौच और संयम का पालन करने वाले (शिव-मार्ग के भक्त) माने जाते हैं।

Word by Word

• goṣṭha-agni-jala-rathyāsu: in cow-sheds, fires, waters, and streets
• goṣṭha-agni-jala-rathyāsu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: goṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक) + jala (प्रातिपदिक) + rathyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वसमासः, अधिकरण (locative)

• taru-chāyāḥ: tree-shades
• taru-chāyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taru (प्रातिपदिक) + chāyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तरूणां छाया)

• nageṣu: on mountains
• nageṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; अधिकरण

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

• tyajanti: they abandon/avoid
• tyajanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tyaj (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• ye: who (those who)
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• purīṣa-ādīn: excrement and the like
• purīṣa-ādīn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purīṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; अव्ययीभाव/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः ‘आदि’समासः (purīṣa etc.)

• an-ārāma-āyataneṣu: in places that are not pleasant gardens (unfit abodes)
• an-ārāma-āyataneṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: an (नञ्) + ārāma (प्रातिपदिक) + āyatana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुषः (non-garden places/unsuitable abodes)

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes śauca and maryādā in sacred/public spaces; such restraint supports eligibility for temple worship and enhances tīrtha-phala by reducing pāśa through disciplined conduct.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches śauca (purity) and self-restraint: a devotee avoids polluting places where life, worship, and sacred presence are honored, thereby reducing tamas and cultivating fitness for Śiva-bhakti.

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

Linga-worship emphasizes sanctity of the shrine and its surroundings; maintaining external cleanliness mirrors inner reverence, supporting focused devotion to Saguna Śiva in the temple space.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is disciplined bodily conduct (śauca) before worship—keeping sacred spaces clean, then approaching Śiva with mantra-japa (e.g., Pañcākṣarī) and a steady, respectful mind.