Shloka 4

पापभेदवर्णनम्

Classification of Sins / Taxonomy of Pāpa

Devanagari script

शिवाश्रमतरूणां च पुष्पारामविनाशनम् । यः पीडामाश्रमस्थानामाचरेदल्पिकामपि

Transliteration

śivāśramatarūṇāṃ ca puṣpārāmavināśanam | yaḥ pīḍāmāśramasthānāmācaredalpikāmapi

Translation

சிவாஶ்ரமத்தின் மரங்களை அழித்து மலர்தோட்டங்களை நாசம் செய்வோன், அல்லது ஆசிரமவாசிகளுக்கு சிறிதளவும் துன்பம் விளைவிப்போன்— சிவனின் புனிதத் தலத்திற்கு பெருங்குற்றம் செய்கிறான்।

Word by Word

• शिवाश्रमतरूणाम्: of the trees of Śiva’s hermitage
• शिवाश्रमतरूणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-आश्रम-तरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive determinative) — शिवस्य आश्रमः (शिवाश्रमः) तस्य तरवः; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पुष्पारामविनाशनम्: the destruction of a flower-garden
• पुष्पारामविनाशनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प-आराम-विनाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष-प्राय (determinative) — पुष्पाणाम् आरामः (पुष्पारामः) तस्य विनाशनम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular) — here Nominative (as the act)

• यः: who (whoever)
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• पीडाम्: harm/affliction
• पीडाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीडा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• आश्रमस्थानाम्: of the hermitage-dwellers / those in the hermitage
• आश्रमस्थानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम-स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive determinative) — आश्रमस्य स्थानानि; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• आचरेत्: should do/commit
• आचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• अल्पिकाम्: even a small (amount)
• अल्पिकाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्पिका (प्रातिपदिक) < अल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying) of पीडाम्

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चय-अव्यय (particle: even/also)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga legend; it defines offence (apacāra) against Śiva’s āśrama—harm to sacred ecology and residents—as a direct affront to Śiva’s protected sphere.

Significance: General: frames temple/āśrama service and protection of sacred groves as Śiva-sevā; harming them accrues heavy demerit, while protecting them supports Śiva’s sthiti-kṛtya (preserving order).

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that harming a Śiva-āśrama—its living ecology and its residents—is an offence against Pati (Śiva) because sacred space supports sādhana and devotion; protecting it is a form of dharma and bhakti.

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

In Saguna worship, Śiva is honored not only through pūjā to the Liṅga but also through safeguarding His abode and His devotees; service and non-injury (ahiṃsā) become extensions of Liṅga-pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt āśrama/temple-niyama: practice ahiṃsā, protect sacred trees and gardens, serve devotees, and support worship with purity of conduct—alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) where appropriate.