Shloka 7

पापभेदवर्णनम्

Classification of Sins / Taxonomy of Pāpa

Devanagari script

स्त्रीधनान्युपजीवंति स्त्रीभिरप्यन्तनिर्जिताः । अरक्षणं च नारीणां मायया स्त्रीनिषेवणम्

Transliteration

strīdhanānyupajīvaṃti strībhirapyantanirjitāḥ | arakṣaṇaṃ ca nārīṇāṃ māyayā strīniṣevaṇam

Translation

وہ عورتوں کے مال پر گزران کرتے ہیں اور عورتوں ہی کے ہاتھوں پوری طرح مغلوب رہتے ہیں؛ وہ عورتوں کی حفاظت نہیں کرتے، اور مایا کے فریب میں پڑ کر عورتوں کی صحبت میں مبتلا رہتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• स्त्रीधनानि: women’s wealth
• स्त्रीधनानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्रीधन (प्रातिपदिक; स्त्री + धन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: स्त्रियाः धनम्)

• उपजीवन्ति: they live on / subsist on
• उपजीवन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप√जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्त्रीभिः: by women
• स्त्रीभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case, Instrumental), बहुवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• अन्तनिर्जिताः: inwardly subdued
• अन्तनिर्जिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तनिर्जित (प्रातिपदिक; अन्त + निर्जित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/उपपद-भाव: अन्तः निर्जिताः = inwardly conquered)

• अरक्षणम्: non-protection / lack of guarding
• अरक्षणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरक्षण (प्रातिपदिक; अ + रक्षण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• नारीणाम्: of women
• नारीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case, Genitive), बहुवचन

• मायया: by deception / by illusion
• मायया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case, Instrumental), एकवचन

• स्त्रीनिषेवणम्: indulgence in women / consorting with women
• स्त्रीनिषेवणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्रीनिषेवण (प्रातिपदिक; स्त्री + निषेवण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (द्वितीया-तत्पुरुष: स्त्रीं निषेवणम्)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (instructing within the Umāsaṃhitā discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Ethical instruction within Umāsaṃhitā: condemns exploitation of strīdhana, failure to protect women, and indulgence ‘by māyā’—presented as moral collapse that strengthens pāśa (māyā/karma) and obstructs Śiva’s anugraha.

Significance: Frames protection of women and non-exploitation as śauca and dayā necessary for fruitful vrata/tīrtha and for Śaiva caryā (right conduct).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It critiques pasha—bondage through desire and dependence—showing how māyā degrades dharma: exploiting wealth, losing inner mastery, and failing in protective responsibility. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such bondage obstructs Shiva-jñāna and steadiness needed for liberation.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva devotion cultivate purity, restraint, and dharmic conduct. The verse contrasts that ideal with māyā-driven indulgence, implying that true worship must transform character—reducing lust, greed, and domination into humility and self-governance before Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice sense-restraint supported by daily Shiva-upāsanā: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of impermanence, and meditating on Shiva as Pati (Lord) who severs pasha (bondage) born of māyā.