Upamanyu’s Tapas, Shiva’s Indra-Form Test, and the Bestowal of Kshiroda and Gaṇapatya
बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन मयाद्यानुमितं महत् भवान्तरकृतं पापं श्रुता निन्दा भवस्य तु
bahunātra kimuktena mayādyānumitaṃ mahat bhavāntarakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ śrutā nindā bhavasya tu
จะกล่าวมากไปไย? ตั้งแต่แรกข้าพเจ้าก็หยั่งรู้ความจริงอันใหญ่หลวงว่า บาปที่ทำไว้ในภพอื่นได้สุกงอมแล้ว เพราะได้ยินและยอมรับคำหมิ่นประมาทภวะ (พระศิวะ) นั่นเอง।
Suta Goswami (narrating an internal admonition within the Purva-Bhaga discourse)
It warns that disrespect toward Bhava (Śiva)—even merely hearing and entertaining slander—creates heavy pāpa, which obstructs the devotee’s eligibility (adhikāra) for Liṅga-pūjā and its fruit.
By treating Śiva-nindā as a uniquely grave fault, the verse implies Śiva as Pati—the supreme Lord—whose honor is inseparable from dharma; contempt for Him tightens pāśa (bondage) upon the paśu (soul).
The implied discipline is vāg-śuddhi (purity of speech) and saṅga-tyāga (avoiding harmful company), a prerequisite for Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā and for effective Liṅga-pūjā without aparādha.