Shloka 14
Pitṛbhakti and Śrāddha: The Classification of Pitṛs and the Superiority of Pitṛ-kārya
तेषां पथि क्षुधार्तानां बाल्यान्मोहाच्च भारत । क्रूरा बुद्धिस्समुत्पन्ना तां गां तै हिंसितुं तदा
teṣāṃ pathi kṣudhārtānāṃ bālyānmohācca bhārata | krūrā buddhissamutpannā tāṃ gāṃ tai hiṃsituṃ tadā
اے بھارت! راستے میں چلتے ہوئے وہ بھوک سے بے تاب اور بچگانہ فریب میں مبتلا تھے؛ تبھی ان کے دل میں اس گائے کو نقصان پہنچانے کی سفّاک نیت پیدا ہوئی۔
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages, addressing a listener as 'Bhārata' within the story-frame)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Shakti Form: Durgā
Role: protective
FAQs
It shows how hunger and moha (delusion) can awaken krūra-buddhi (cruel resolve), binding the jīva in pāśa (bondage) and producing heavy karma; Shaiva teaching urges restraint and dharmic compassion to move toward Shiva’s grace.
In the Shiva Purana’s devotional frame, Saguna Shiva (worshipped as the Linga) is approached through purity of conduct; abandoning हिंसा (harm) and cruel intention is part of preparing the mind for Linga-upāsanā and receiving Shiva’s anugraha (grace).
A practical takeaway is to counter cruel impulses with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and cultivate ahimsa as a vrata; this aligns the mind toward sattva and supports steady devotion.