Shloka 25
नरकयातनावर्णनम् / Description of Hell-Torments for Specific Transgressions
अशेषनरकेष्वेव क्रमंति क्रमशः पुनः । ये गृह्णन्ति परद्रव्यं पद्भ्यां विप्रं स्पृशंति च
aśeṣanarakeṣveva kramaṃti kramaśaḥ punaḥ | ye gṛhṇanti paradravyaṃ padbhyāṃ vipraṃ spṛśaṃti ca
Mereka yang merampas harta orang lain, dan mereka yang menyentuh seorang brāhmaṇa dengan kaki—orang demikian, berulang-ulang, melangkah demi selangkah melalui semua neraka. Dari sudut pandang Śaiva, perbuatan ini menguatkan ikatan (pāśa) dengan mengeraskan ego serta meremehkan dharma, lalu melambatkan jiwa untuk berpaling kepada Śiva, Sang Pembebas (Pati).
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya, as typical for Umāsaṃhitā discourse sections)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
FAQs
It warns that violating dharma through theft and contempt for sacred persons deepens karmic bondage (pāśa), causing repeated suffering and delaying liberation; the implied remedy is ethical restraint and reorientation to Śiva, the freeing Lord (Pati).
Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is inseparable from purity of conduct; devotion to Saguna Śiva bears fruit when supported by non-injury, non-stealing, and reverence—otherwise worship becomes external while bondage remains.
Practice self-restraint (asteya), make amends through confession and charity, and stabilize the mind with japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a vow of inner purification.