Shloka 53
दक्षयज्ञे मुनिदेवसमागमः / The Gathering of Sages and Gods at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice
विनष्टचित्ता मंदाश्च मिथ्यावादरताः खलाः । वेदबाह्या दुराचारास्त्याज्यास्ते मखकर्मणि
vinaṣṭacittā maṃdāśca mithyāvādaratāḥ khalāḥ | vedabāhyā durācārāstyājyāste makhakarmaṇi
చిత్తం నశించినవారు, మందబుద్ధులు, అసత్యవాక్యాలలో రమించే దుష్టులు—వేదమార్గానికి వెలుపల ఉండి దురాచారం చేసే వారు—అటువంటి వారు యజ్ఞకర్మలో త్యజ్యులు.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Shiva Purana discourse to the sages, conveying the Satī-khaṇḍa teaching on eligibility for rites)
Tattva Level: pasha
FAQs
It teaches that outer ritual (makha/yajña) must be supported by inner fitness—truthfulness, clarity of mind, and right conduct—otherwise the rite loses its sanctifying power and cannot properly lead toward Shiva’s grace and liberation.
Linga/Saguna Shiva worship in the Shiva Purana emphasizes purity of intention and disciplined living; this verse aligns with that by stating that those devoted to falsehood and misconduct are unfit for sacred actions, including offerings and formal worship.
The takeaway is ethical purification as a daily practice: cultivate satya (truth), restrain harmful speech, and approach Shiva worship with disciplined conduct—supporting mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a purified mind.