Shloka 45

नरकयातनावर्णनम् / Description of Hell-Torments for Specific Transgressions

Devanagari script

यस्त्वेतां मानवो धेनुं श्रद्धया ह्यनुपूर्विकाम् । करोति सततं काले साग्नित्वायोपकल्प्यते

Transliteration

yastvetāṃ mānavo dhenuṃ śraddhayā hyanupūrvikām | karoti satataṃ kāle sāgnitvāyopakalpyate

Translation

But the person who, with faith and in proper sequence, continually performs this symbolic rite of the cow at the fitting times becomes qualified to maintain the sacred fire (Agni), fit for disciplined worship and Vedic–Śaiva observance.

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/पदार्थ-भेदक (particle: but/indeed)

• एताम्: this
• एताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (demonstrative)

• मानवः: a man/human
• मानवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• धेनुम्: cow
• धेनुम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• श्रद्धया: with faith
• श्रद्धया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• अनुपूर्विकाम्: in proper order
• अनुपूर्विकाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुपूर्विका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (in due order/according to proper sequence)

• करोति: does/performs
• करोति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सततम्: always
• सततम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: always/continually)

• काले: at the proper time
• काले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• साग्नित्वाय: for (attaining) the state of having sacred fire
• साग्नित्वाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient-Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स + अग्नित्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (सह-अग्नित्व = having/with fire-hood; here: for the state of being with sacred fire)

• उपकल्प्यते: is prepared/arranged (is made fit)
• उपकल्प्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; it frames a regulated observance (‘dhenu’ rite) as producing adhikāra (eligibility) for sāgnitva—disciplined fire-maintenance and orthodox ritual life.

Significance: Merit through śraddhā and proper sequence (anupūrvī) leading to ritual fitness; in Śaiva Siddhānta, such caryā/kriyā purify the paśu for higher yoga/jñāna.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that śraddhā (faith) joined with niyama (proper method and timing) purifies the practitioner and makes them fit for disciplined Shiva-oriented dharma, supporting inner purification that leads toward Shiva’s grace.

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

By emphasizing orderly, time-bound observance, it supports Saguna Shiva worship as regulated sādhanā—outer ritual steadies the mind and body so devotion to Shiva (including Linga worship) becomes stable and effective.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular performance of prescribed rites ‘in due order’—such as maintaining purity, observing proper timings, and steady daily worship—so one becomes sāgni (fit to keep sacred fire) and thereby strengthens mantra-japa and devotional discipline.