Shloka 49

Jaṭilāvatāra-Parīkṣā: Pārvatyāḥ Tapasāṃ Parīkṣaṇam

The Jaṭilā Episode and the Testing of Pārvatī’s Austerity

Devanagari script

न केवलं भवेत्पापं निन्दाकर्तुः शिवस्य हि । यो वै शृणोति तन्निन्दां पापभाक्स भवेदिह

Transliteration

na kevalaṃ bhavetpāpaṃ nindākartuḥ śivasya hi | yo vai śṛṇoti tannindāṃ pāpabhāksa bhavediha

Translation

ശിവനെ നിന്ദിക്കുന്നവനേയ്ക്ക് മാത്രമല്ല പാപം; ആ നിന്ദ കേൾക്കുന്നവനും ഈ ജീവിതത്തിലേ തന്നെ ആ പാപത്തിൽ പങ്കാളിയാകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• kevalam: only
• kevalam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kevala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative used as indeclinable (क्रियाविशेषण-रूपेण): 'only/merely'

• bhavet: would be
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; √भू: 'would be/becomes'

• pāpam: sin
• pāpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate noun

• nindā-kartuḥ: of the blamer
• nindā-kartuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nindā (प्रातिपदिक) + kartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; तत्पुरुषः = 'of the doer of blame'

• śivasya: of Śiva
• śivasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; 'of Śiva'

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; relative pronoun introducing clause

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable emphatic particle (निपात)

• śṛṇoti: hears
• śṛṇoti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; √श्रु: 'hears'

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; pronoun qualifying nindām: 'that'

• nindām: blame, slander
• nindām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nindā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of śṛṇoti

• pāpa-bhāk: a sharer in sin
• pāpa-bhāk: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāj (धातु; भाक्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुषः = 'partaker of sin' (bhāk = 'sharer')

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; pronoun 'he'

• bhavet: would become
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; √भू: 'would be'

• iha: here (in this world)
• iha: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (अव्यय) of place/time

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s teaching on avoiding Shiva-ninda to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Defines a social-ethical boundary for pilgrims and devotees: even passive hearing of Śiva-nindā is spiritually contaminating; hence one should leave such company/space to preserve bhakti and merit.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that spiritual downfall is not only caused by committing Shiva-ninda, but also by consenting through passive hearing; Shaiva devotion requires guarding speech and the mind by refusing to entertain contempt toward Pati (Śiva).

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

Linga/Saguṇa worship is sustained by śraddhā (reverent faith). Listening to blasphemy erodes that reverence and becomes an apacāra against the very object of worship; thus the devotee should protect the sanctity of Shiva-nāma, Linga, and Shiva-bhakti by avoiding such company and conversations.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice verbal and auditory purity: leave places where Shiva is criticized, mentally repeat the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), and re-center in bhakti; if appropriate, respectfully stop the speech and dedicate the mind to Shiva-nāma japa.