Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

हस्तन्यासापहरणं रुक्मस्तेयसमं स्मृतम् । कन्यानां वरयोग्यानामदानं सदृशे वरे

Transliteration

hastanyāsāpaharaṇaṃ rukmasteyasamaṃ smṛtam | kanyānāṃ varayogyānāmadānaṃ sadṛśe vare

Translation

हातात ठेवून प्रतिज्ञेने दिलेले दान बळजबरीने हिरावून घेणे हे सुवर्णचोरीसमान मानले आहे. तसेच विवाहयोग्य कन्येला योग्य व समकक्ष वरास न देणे हाही तसाच दोष समजला जातो.

Word by Word

• हस्तन्यास: placing (something) by hand; deposit
• हस्तन्यास: सम्बन्ध (compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + न्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: हस्तस्य न्यासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (stem in compound), एकवचन (compound-member)

• अपहरणम्: taking away; removal
• अपहरणम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप-हृ (धातु) + ल्युट् (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त (action noun/ल्युट्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• रुक्म: gold
• रुक्म: सम्बन्ध (compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुक्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (usage), समासाङ्ग (compound-member)

• स्तेय: theft
• स्तेय: सम्बन्ध (compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, समासाङ्ग (compound-member)

• समम्: equal to; comparable to
• समम्: विशेषण (Adjectival complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; उपमान-विशेषण

• स्मृतम्: is declared/considered
• स्मृतम्: कर्म (Karma; predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि—‘is considered/declared’

• कन्यानाम्: of maidens/daughters
• कन्यानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• वरयोग्यानाम्: fit for a husband; marriageable
• वरयोग्यानाम्: विशेषण (Adjective of कन्यानाम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + योग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: वराय योग्याः (चतुर्थी/तत्पुरुष or उपपद-तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; ‘कन्यानाम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• अदानम्: non-giving; not giving (in marriage)
• अदानम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सदृशे: in a suitable/equal
• सदृशे: विशेषण (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; ‘वरे’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• वरे: in (the case of) a bridegroom
• वरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that spiritual progress in Shaiva life rests on dharma: violating trust (taking back a pledged gift) and obstructing righteous social duties creates heavy pāpa that binds the soul (paśu) more tightly in pasha (bondage), delaying clarity, devotion, and liberation under Pati (Shiva).

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

Linga-worship is not merely ritual; it demands integrity and truthfulness. This verse reinforces that devotion to Saguna Shiva must be supported by ethical conduct—honoring commitments and upholding dharmic responsibilities—so worship becomes purifying rather than contradictory.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is a vow of satya (truth) and asteya (non-stealing) alongside Shiva worship—reciting the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with the resolve to keep one’s promises and avoid taking what is not rightfully one’s.