Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16
प्रयागे महत्समाजः — शिवदर्शनं दक्षागमनं च
The Great Assembly at Prayāga: Śiva’s Appearance and Dakṣa’s Arrival
पाखंडिनो दुर्जनपाप शीला दृष्ट्वा द्विजं प्रोद्धतनिंदकाश्च । वध्वां सदासक्तरतिप्रवीणस्तस्मादमुं शप्तुमहं प्रवृत्तः
pākhaṃḍino durjanapāpa śīlā dṛṣṭvā dvijaṃ proddhataniṃdakāśca | vadhvāṃ sadāsaktaratipravīṇastasmādamuṃ śaptumahaṃ pravṛttaḥ
ครั้นเห็นพราหมณ์ผู้นั้น—ผู้เป็นพวกนอกธรรม คนชั่วสันดานบาป อวดดีพองโตและชอบกล่าวร้าย อีกทั้งชำนาญในกามและติดพันภรรยาผู้อื่นอยู่เสมอ—ฉะนั้นข้าจึงมุ่งจะสาปเขา
An offended brāhmaṇa/ṛṣi (narrated within Sūta’s discourse in Rudra Saṃhitā)
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It highlights how pāśa (bondage) manifests as arrogance, slander, and uncontrolled desire—forces that drag the jīva away from śiva-dharma; the verse warns that such conduct ripens into painful karmic consequences.
Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is tied to inner purity (śauca) and restraint; slander and lust oppose the bhāva needed for Saguna Shiva devotion, so the narrative uses moral consequence (a curse) to reinforce devotional discipline.
A practical takeaway is to counter nindā and kāma with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), wearing rudrākṣa with right conduct, and applying tripuṇḍra-bhasma as a daily reminder of detachment and purity.