Shloka 23
महापातकवर्णनम् (Mahāpātaka-varṇanam) — “Description of Great Sins and Their Consequences”
ब्रह्मघ्नश्च सुरापश्च स्तेयी च गुरुतल्पगः । महापातकिनस्त्वेते तत्संयोगी च पंचमः
brahmaghnaśca surāpaśca steyī ca gurutalpagaḥ | mahāpātakinastvete tatsaṃyogī ca paṃcamaḥ
ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣಹಂತಕ, ಸುರಾಪಾನಿ, ಕಳ್ಳ, ಗುರುಶಯ್ಯಾಭಂಗಿ—ಇವರು ಮಹಾಪಾತಕಿಗಳು ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಲ್ಪಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾರೆ; ಇವರ ಸಂಗ ಮಾಡುವವನು ಐದನೆಯವನಾಗಿ ಅವರಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಗಣಿಸಲ್ಪಡುತ್ತಾನೆ.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana’s teaching as received in the Uma Samhita discourse)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Bhairava
FAQs
It teaches that bondage (pāśa) is intensified not only by grave actions but also by harmful association; in Shaiva Siddhanta, purifying conduct and saṅga supports the soul’s turning toward Pati (Shiva) and liberation.
By warning against mahāpātakas and their company, it frames Linga-worship as a path of purification and reorientation—approaching Saguna Shiva with repentance, discipline, and sincere devotion to loosen karmic bonds.
The practical takeaway is to avoid corrupting company and adopt purificatory Shaiva discipline—regular japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and sincere vows of restraint alongside devotion, as a remedial orientation toward Shiva.