Shloka 34

नरकयातनावर्णनम् / Description of Hell-Torments for Specific Transgressions

Devanagari script

कृमिभिः प्राणिभिश्चोग्रैर्लोहतुण्डैश्च वायसैः । उपद्रवैर्बहुविधैरुग्रैरंतः प्रपीड्यते

Transliteration

kṛmibhiḥ prāṇibhiścograirlohatuṇḍaiśca vāyasaiḥ | upadravairbahuvidhairugrairaṃtaḥ prapīḍyate

Translation

He is tormented inwardly by fierce worms and other dreadful creatures, and by iron-beaked crows—afflicted by many kinds of terrible attacks from within.

Word by Word

• कृमिभिः: by worms
• कृमिभिः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• प्राणिभिः: by living beings/creatures
• प्राणिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• उग्रैः: fierce
• उग्रैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying प्राणिभिः/वायसैः)

• लोह-तुण्डैः: with iron-like beaks
• लोह-तुण्डैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोह (प्रातिपदिक) + तुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय ‘लोहवत् तुण्डं येषाम्’; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• वायसैः: by crows
• वायसैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• उपद्रवैः: by afflictions/harassments
• उपद्रवैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपद्रव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• बहु-विधैः: of many kinds
• बहु-विधैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative) ‘बहवो विधाः’; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (उपद्रवैः)

• उग्रैः: terrible
• उग्रैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (उपद्रवैः)

• अन्तः: within, inwardly
• अन्तः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्तः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how pasha (bondage) ripens into intense inner suffering; in Shaiva Siddhanta, such torment is the fruit of impurity and karma, urging the pashu (bound soul) to seek Shiva (Pati) for liberation.

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

By portraying the horror of bondage, it implicitly points to Saguna Shiva worship—Linga devotion, mantra, and purity—as the refuge that calms inner upadravas and redirects the soul 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 devotion, supported by Shaiva disciplines like Tripundra (bhasma) and Rudraksha as aids for steadiness and protection.