Shloka 37

नरकयातनावर्णनम् / Description of Hell-Torments for Specific Transgressions

Devanagari script

शिवामभ्यर्च्य यत्नेन हुत्वाग्नौ विधिपूर्वकम् । शैवैर्मन्त्रैर्बलिं ये च ददंते न च ते यमम्

Transliteration

śivāmabhyarcya yatnena hutvāgnau vidhipūrvakam | śaivairmantrairbaliṃ ye ca dadaṃte na ca te yamam

Translation

Those who, with careful effort, worship Śivā (the Divine Mother) and then perform the fire-offering in due ritual order, and who also present the bali-offering while reciting Śaiva mantras—such devotees do not fall under the authority of Yama (the Lord of Death).

Word by Word

• शिवाम्: Śivā (Goddess)
• शिवाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund) ‘having worshipped’

• यत्नेन: with effort, carefully
• यत्नेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हुत्वा: having offered
• हुत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund) ‘having offered (into fire)’

• अग्नौ: in the fire
• अग्नौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• विधि-पूर्वकम्: according to the prescribed rite
• विधि-पूर्वकम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (adverbial) ‘विधिपूर्वकं’ = according to rule

• शैवैः: Śaiva
• शैवैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (मन्त्रैः)

• मन्त्रैः: with mantras
• मन्त्रैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• बलिम्: offering
• बलिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक-सर्वनाम

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

• ददन्ते: give/offer
• ददन्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

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

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• यमम्: Yama (death)
• यमम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Assures protection from Yama’s jurisdiction through Śaiva worship, homa, and mantra-bali; emphasizes salvific efficacy of Śiva-Śivā devotion.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Yama

FAQs

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

It teaches that disciplined Śaiva devotion—Devī worship joined with properly performed homa and mantra-offerings—purifies karma and places the devotee under Śiva-Śakti’s grace rather than the binding fear of death represented by Yama.

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

The verse highlights Saguna worship expressed through ritual acts (pūjā, homa, bali) empowered by Śaiva mantras; in Shaiva Siddhanta, such outward worship supports inner surrender to Pati (Śiva) and loosens pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Devī/Śiva-aligned worship with care, offer oblations into the sacred fire according to vidhi, and give a bali offering while reciting Śaiva mantras (e.g., Panchākṣarī/Śiva-mantras) as a regular discipline, especially on Śiva holy days.