Shloka 29

नरकयातनावर्णनम् / Description of Hell-Torments for Specific Transgressions

Devanagari script

तेषां शिश्नं सवृषणं चूर्ण्यते लोहमुद्गरैः । सूचीभिरग्निवर्णाभिस्कथा त्वापूर्य्यते पुनः

Transliteration

teṣāṃ śiśnaṃ savṛṣaṇaṃ cūrṇyate lohamudgaraiḥ | sūcībhiragnivarṇābhiskathā tvāpūryyate punaḥ

Translation

Their organ, together with the testes, is crushed with iron mallets; and again it is pierced and filled with needle-like instruments glowing like fire—thus is their torment described.

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural); सर्वनाम

• शिश्नम्: penis
• शिश्नम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिश्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सवृषणम्: with the testicles
• सवृषणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + वृषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सह/सहितार्थे: 'with'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifies शिश्नम्)

• चूर्ण्यते: is crushed/pulverized
• चूर्ण्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चूर्णय् (धातु; नामधातु from चूर्ण)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: 'is pulverized')

• लोहमुद्गरैः: with iron hammers
• लोहमुद्गरैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोह + मुद्गर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/उपपद: 'iron-hammers'); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सूचीभिः: with needles
• सूचीभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अग्निवर्णाभिः: fire-colored, red-hot
• अग्निवर्णाभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्नि + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ('fire-colored'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (qualifies सूचीभिः)

• कथा: a story/account
• कथा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• अपूर्यते: is filled
• अपूर्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + पूर् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive: 'is filled')

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: 'again')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: naraka-yātanā (karmic torment narrative)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents a stark karmic warning: misuse of sensual power and adharma bind the paśu (individual soul) more tightly in pāśa (bondage), whereas self-restraint and devotion to Pati (Shiva) support purification and liberation.

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

By contrasting bodily obsession with the higher aim of worship, it indirectly redirects the seeker from sense-driven identity to Saguna Shiva worship (Linga as a focus of devotion) that disciplines desire and turns the mind toward grace and inner purity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is sense-restraint with daily Shiva-upasana—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), wearing Rudraksha, and applying Tripundra (bhasma) as reminders of vairagya and ethical conduct.