Shiva Purana — Uma Samhita, Adhyaya 7, Shloka 12

नरकलोकमार्गयमदूतस्वरूपवर्णनम् / Description of the Path to Naraka and the Nature of Yama’s Messengers

Devanagari script

क्वचिद्विषमगर्तैश्च क्वचिल्लोष्टैस्सुदुष्करैः । सुतप्तवालुकाभिश्च तथा तीक्ष्णैश्च शंकुभिः

Transliteration

kvacidviṣamagartaiśca kvacilloṣṭaissuduṣkaraiḥ | sutaptavālukābhiśca tathā tīkṣṇaiśca śaṃkubhiḥ

Translation

কোথাও ছিল অসম গর্ত, কোথাও কঠিন ঢেলার স্তূপ—যা পার হওয়া দুষ্কর; কোথাও দগ্ধ উত্তপ্ত বালু, আর কোথাও তীক্ষ্ণ খুঁটি-শঙ্কু।

Word by Word

• kvacit: somewhere; at times
• kvacit: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kvacit (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa/avasthā-avyaya (देश/अवस्था-अव्यय, adverb)

• viṣama-gartaiḥ: with uneven pits
• viṣama-gartaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣama (प्रातिपदिक) + garta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); karmadhāraya: 'uneven pits'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (समुच्चय-निपात, conjunction)

• kvacit: somewhere; at times
• kvacit: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kvacit (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa/avasthā-avyaya (देश/अवस्था-अव्यय, adverb)

• loṣṭaiḥ: with clods/stones
• loṣṭaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• su-duṣkaraiḥ: very hard (to cross)
• su-duṣkaraiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + duṣkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); karmadhāraya: 'very difficult (to traverse)' (qualifying loṣṭaiḥ or implied obstacles)

• sutapta-vālukābhiḥ: with scorching sand
• sutapta-vālukābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sutapta (प्रातिपदिक; PPP of √tap with su-) + vālukā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: sutaptā vālukā = 'well-heated sand'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (समुच्चय-निपात, conjunction)

• tathā: likewise; also
• tathā: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā/saṃgraha-avyaya (उपमा/संग्रह-अव्यय, adverb: 'likewise/also')

• tīkṣṇaiḥ: sharp
• tīkṣṇaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīkṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); viśeṣaṇa of śaṃkubhiḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (समुच्चय-निपात, conjunction)

• śaṃkubhiḥ: with spikes/stakes
• śaṃkubhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃku (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights the ‘obstructed path’ of embodied life (pits, clods, hot sand, stakes) as karma’s rough terrain; motivates seeking Śiva’s guidance and grace to transcend obstacles.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays the spiritual journey as a difficult passage filled with hindrances—symbolic of pasha (bondage) and karmic obstructions that must be crossed through Shiva-bhakti, discipline, and right knowledge.

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

By emphasizing obstacles and suffering, the verse indirectly points to taking refuge in Saguna Shiva—worship of the Linga as a steady support—so the devotee can endure hardships and move toward Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with disciplined sadhana; enduring difficulties with remembrance of Shiva is the implied practice.