Shloka 1

नरकयातनावर्णनम् / Description of Hell-Torments for Specific Transgressions

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । मिथ्यागमं प्रवृत्तस्तु द्विजिह्वाख्ये च गच्छति । जिह्वार्द्धकोशविस्तीर्णहलैस्तीक्ष्णः प्रपीड्यते

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | mithyāgamaṃ pravṛttastu dvijihvākhye ca gacchati | jihvārddhakośavistīrṇahalaistīkṣṇaḥ prapīḍyate

Translation

Sanatkumāra said: One who engages in false doctrines goes to the hell called Dvijihvā (“two-tongued”). There he is fiercely tormented, his tongue being pressed and crushed by sharp ploughshares broad as half a sheath.

Word by Word

• सनत्कुमारः: Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत्कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मिथ्या-आगमम्: false doctrine
• मिथ्या-आगमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिथ्या (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + आगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘मिथ्या आगमः’ (false doctrine/scripture)

• प्रवृत्तः: one who has engaged (in)
• प्रवृत्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘engaged/entered into’

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) — contrast/emphasis

• द्वि-जिह्वा-आख्ये: in (the hell) called Dvijihvā
• द्वि-जिह्वा-आख्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (√ख्या, ‘named’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; ‘द्विजिह्वा’ इति आख्ये (in the place called Dvijihvā)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• गच्छति: goes
• गच्छति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• जिह्वा-अर्द्ध-कोश-विस्तीर्ण-हलैः: with ploughs spread wide like half-tongue-sheaths
• जिह्वा-अर्द्ध-कोश-विस्तीर्ण-हलैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्द्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + कोश (प्रातिपदिक) + विस्तीर्ण (√स्तॄ/स्तृ, क्त-प्रत्यय, कृदन्त) + हल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष—‘जिह्वायाः अर्द्धकोशवत् विस्तीर्णैः हलैः’ (with ploughs spread like half-sheaths of tongues)

• तीक्ष्णः: sharp
• तीक्ष्णः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• प्रपीड्यते: is tormented/crushed
• प्रपीड्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-पीड् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive)

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; it is a naraka-specific karmaphala for ‘mithyāgama’ (false doctrine), stressing fidelity to true āgama/śāstra as protection from pāśa.

Significance: Didactic: encourages śāstra-śravaṇa under a sadguru and adherence to Śaiva dharma/āgama; warns against doctrinal duplicity (dvijihvā).

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It warns that embracing and propagating false teachings (mithyāgama) binds the soul (paśu) more tightly in pāśa (bondage), leading to painful karmic results rather than the liberating path that leads toward Pati (Śiva).

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

By condemning mithyāgama, the text indirectly upholds āgamic, dharmic Śaiva practice—right understanding and devotion to Saguna Śiva (including Linga worship) as a legitimate means for purification and ascent toward liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to follow authentic Śaiva discipline—steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with devotion and ethical restraint—rather than adopting deceptive or harmful doctrines.