Shloka 4

नरकयातनावर्णनम् / Description of Hell-Torments for Specific Transgressions

Devanagari script

कामायोद्वर्तनाभ्यंग स्नानपानाम्बुभोजनम् । क्रीडनं मैथुनं द्यूतमाचरन्ति मदोद्धता

Transliteration

kāmāyodvartanābhyaṃga snānapānāmbubhojanam | krīḍanaṃ maithunaṃ dyūtamācaranti madoddhatā

Translation

Vom Begehren getrieben und von berauschter Überheblichkeit aufgebläht, frönen sie dem Abrubbeln des Körpers und der Ölmassage, dem Baden, dem Trinken und Essen; ebenso dem Spiel, der geschlechtlichen Vereinigung und dem Glücksspiel.

Word by Word

• कामाय: for pleasure/desire
• कामाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Beneficiary)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• उद्वर्तन: rubbing/massage (with powders)
• उद्वर्तन: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्+वृत् (धातु) → उद्वर्तन (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; भाववाचक-नाम (action noun)

• अभ्यङ्ग: oil-anointing/massage
• अभ्यङ्ग: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभि+अञ्ज् (धातु) → अभ्यङ्ग (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रियानाम (act noun)

• स्नान: bathing
• स्नान: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्ना (धातु) → स्नान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पान: drinking
• पान: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पा (धातु) → पान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अम्बु: water
• अम्बु: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• भोजनम्: eating/food
• भोजनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुज् (धातु) → भोजन (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• क्रीडनम्: playing/sport
• क्रीडनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रीड् (धातु) → क्रीडन (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मैथुनम्: sexual union
• मैथुनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैथुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• द्यूतम्: gambling/dice-play
• द्यूतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्यूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आचरन्ति: they practice/engage in
• आचरन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• मदोद्धताः: puffed up with intoxication/pride
• मदोद्धताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद-उद्धत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: मदेन उद्धताः (inflated by intoxication/pride)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching Umā/Parvatī in the Umāsaṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it critiques kāma-driven indulgence (bhoga) and mada, classic markers of māyā’s veiling (tirodhāna) that keep the paśu bound.

Significance: Instructional: encourages vairāgya and regulated life for effective śiva-sādhana; warns that sensual excess obstructs temple worship and japa.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It identifies kāma (desire) and mada (arrogant intoxication) as forms of pāśa—bondage that keeps the paśu (bound soul) revolving in worldly habits instead of turning toward Pati (Shiva) and liberation.

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

By contrasting sense-driven life with disciplined devotion, the verse implies that Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-pūjā with mantra and purity) is meant to redirect attention from indulgence to reverence, restraint, and inner recollection of Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is vairāgya with daily Shiva-oriented discipline—japa of the Panchāksharī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), simple sāttvika living, and yogic self-restraint—rather than being carried away by pleasure-seeking routines.