Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22
तारकवाक्य-शक्रविष्णुवीरभद्रयुद्धवर्णनम् — Account of Tāraka’s declarations and the battle involving Śakra (Indra), Viṣṇu, and Vīrabhadra
पापं विना स्वकीया स्त्री त्यक्ता पापरतेन यत् । तत्रापि श्रुतिमार्गश्च ध्वंसितस्स्वार्थहेतवे
pāpaṃ vinā svakīyā strī tyaktā pāparatena yat | tatrāpi śrutimārgaśca dhvaṃsitassvārthahetave
เมื่อผู้หมกมุ่นในบาปทอดทิ้งภรรยาของตนผู้ไร้มลทิน แม้ในกรณีนั้นด้วยเหตุแห่งความเห็นแก่ตน มรรคาแห่งศรุติ (ธรรมะแห่งพระเวท) ก็ถูกทำลาย
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It warns that adharma in relationships—especially abandoning an innocent spouse out of sinful inclination—does not remain a private fault; it collapses one’s alignment with śruti (Vedic dharma), which Shaiva tradition treats as a necessary foundation for purity, devotion, and eventual liberation through Shiva’s grace.
Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is not mere ritual; it is supported by dharmic living. A mind driven by selfishness and harm to others contradicts the śruti-mārga that sanctifies worship, so the verse implies that devotion to Saguna Shiva should be accompanied by integrity, restraint, and responsibility.
The practical takeaway is self-purification: daily Shiva-smaraṇa with the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), along with repentance, truthful conduct, and non-injury—so that external worship (bhasma, rudrāksha, pūjā) is supported by inner dharma rather than svārtha (self-serving intent).