Shloka 43

पापभेदवर्णनम्

Classification of Sins / Taxonomy of Pāpa

Devanagari script

अन्यायात्समुपादाय द्विजेभ्यो यः प्रयच्छति । प्रजाभ्यः पच्यते सोऽपि नरकेषु नृपो यथा

Transliteration

anyāyātsamupādāya dvijebhyo yaḥ prayacchati | prajābhyaḥ pacyate so'pi narakeṣu nṛpo yathā

Translation

ಅನ್ಯಾಯದಿಂದ ಸಂಪಾದಿಸಿದ ಧನವನ್ನು ದ್ವಿಜರಿಗೆ (ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣರಿಗೆ) ದಾನ ಮಾಡಿದರೂ, ಪ್ರಜೆಯ ಮೇಲಿನ ದೋಷದಿಂದ ಅವನೂ ನರಕಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ದಹಿಸಲ್ಪಡುತ್ತಾನೆ—ಪ್ರಜೆಯನ್ನು ಪೀಡಿಸುವ ರಾಜನಂತೆ.

Word by Word

अन्यायात्from injustice / by unjust means

समुपादायhaving taken (appropriated)

द्विजेभ्यःto the Brahmins

यःwho

प्रयच्छतिgives, bestows

प्रजाभ्यःfrom the subjects (people)

पच्यतेis cooked / is tormented

सःhe

अपिalso / even

नरकेषुin hells

नृपःa king

यथाas, like

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that karma depends on the purity of one’s means and intention: charity cannot cancel the sin of injustice. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, harming beings strengthens pāśa (bondage), obstructing Shiva’s grace (anugraha) and delaying liberation.

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

Linga worship is not merely ritual; it is alignment with dharma. Offerings made to Saguna Shiva should be earned righteously—otherwise the external pūjā contradicts the inner requirement of purity (śuddhi) that supports true Shiva-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice honest livelihood (ājīva-śuddhi) alongside daily Shiva-pūjā: offer water and bilva with the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and give dāna only from just earnings, maintaining compassion toward all beings.