Shloka 15

नरकयातनावर्णनम् / Description of Hell-Torments for Specific Transgressions

Devanagari script

यैरिन्द्रियैर्नरा ये च कुर्वन्ति परस्त्रियम् । इन्द्रियाणि च तेषां वै विकुर्वंति तथैव च

Transliteration

yairindriyairnarā ye ca kurvanti parastriyam | indriyāṇi ca teṣāṃ vai vikurvaṃti tathaiva ca

Translation

Those men who, through their sense-organs, pursue another man’s wife—those very sense-organs of theirs, indeed, become correspondingly perverted and distorted.

Word by Word

• yaiḥ: by which
• yaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन); relative pronoun

• indriyaiḥ: with the senses
• indriyaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• narāḥ: men
• narāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); relative pronoun

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• kurvanti: make; do
• kurvanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• para-striyam: another’s wife
• para-striyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः (parā strī)

• indriyāṇi: the senses
• indriyāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय)

• vikurvanti: distort; deform
• vikurvanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tathā: thus; in that manner
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• eva: just; indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारणार्थक अव्यय)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Purāṇic teaching to the sages, inferred for Umāsaṃhitā discourse style)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

FAQs

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

It teaches indriya-nigraha (restraint of the senses): when desire is turned toward adharma (illicit relations), the same senses become corrupted, binding the soul (paśu) more tightly in pāśa (bondage) and obstructing clarity needed for Shiva-realization.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is linked with purification of conduct and mind; devotion to Saguna Shiva is strengthened by ethical discipline. By guarding the senses and honoring marital dharma, the devotee becomes fit for steadier japa, pūjā, and inward absorption on Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is a vow of purity (brahmacharya/śauca) supported by daily Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and mindfulness over the senses, so that attention does not run outward into harmful desire.