Shloka 8

महापातकवर्णनम् (Mahāpātaka-varṇanam) — “Description of Great Sins and Their Consequences”

Devanagari script

ये शिवज्ञानवक्तारं निन्दंति च तपस्विनम् । गुरून्पितॄनथोन्मत्तास्ते यांति निरयार्णवम्

Transliteration

ye śivajñānavaktāraṃ nindaṃti ca tapasvinam | gurūnpitṝnathonmattāste yāṃti nirayārṇavam

Translation

ಶಿವಜ್ಞಾನವನ್ನು ಉಪದೇಶಿಸುವ ಆಚಾರ್ಯನನ್ನು ನಿಂದಿಸುವವರು, ತಪಸ್ವಿಯನ್ನು ತಿರಸ್ಕರಿಸುವವರು, ಮತ್ತು ಉನ್ಮತ್ತರಂತೆ ಗುರುಗಳನ್ನೂ ತಂದೆಯನ್ನೂ ಅವಮಾನಿಸುವವರು—ಅವರು ನರಕಸಾಗರಕ್ಕೆ ಬೀಳುತ್ತಾರೆ.

Word by Word

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• शिवज्ञान-वक्तारम्: the speaker/teacher of Śiva-knowledge
• शिवज्ञान-वक्तारम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + ज्ञान + वक्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: शिव-ज्ञानस्य वक्ता (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); ‘वक्तृ’ (कर्तृवाचक); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• निन्दन्ति: criticize, revile
• निन्दन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निन्द् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तपस्विनम्: the ascetic
• तपस्विनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• गुरून्: teachers, elders
• गुरून्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पितॄन्: fathers/forefathers
• पितॄन्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अथ: and also/then
• अथ: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक/समुच्चयार्थक (then/also)

• उन्मत्ताः: mad, deluded
• उन्मत्ताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उन्मत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (qualifier) ये/ते

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• यान्ति: go
• यान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• निरयार्णवम्: the ocean of hell
• निरयार्णवम्: Karma (कर्म/Goal as object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निरय + अर्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: निरयस्य अर्णवः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Protects the guru-paramparā and tapas as vehicles for Śiva-jñāna; guru-nindā is treated as a major obstruction that intensifies bondage (pāśa) and leads to spiritual downfall.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that contempt for Śiva-jñāna and its transmitters (guru/teacher), along with disrespect toward ascetics and parents, is a grave adharma that intensifies pāśa (bondage) and results in painful karmic consequences described as falling into naraka.

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

Linga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship is not only ritual but also a discipline of reverence—especially toward the guru who imparts Śiva-mantra and Śiva-tattva. Insulting such a teacher contradicts the very attitude (bhāva) required for fruitful Linga worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice guru-vandana and daily humility: bow to one’s guru/elders, avoid nindā (fault-finding), and support tapasvins; then undertake japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a purified attitude.