Shloka 46

नरकयातनावर्णनम् / Description of Hell-Torments for Specific Transgressions

Devanagari script

यस्तां जहाति वा स्वस्थस्तामिस्रे स तु मज्जति । तस्माद्दत्त्वा बलिं तेभ्यो द्वारस्थश्चिंतयेत्क्षणम्

Transliteration

yastāṃ jahāti vā svasthastāmisre sa tu majjati | tasmāddattvā baliṃ tebhyo dvārasthaściṃtayetkṣaṇam

Translation

Whoever, though healthy and able, abandons that sacred observance sinks into the darkness of delusion. Therefore, having offered a bali (ritual offering) to those beings, one should stand at the doorway and contemplate for a moment, turning the mind steadily toward Śiva.

Word by Word

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

• ताम्: that (her)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (referring to the cow/that)

• जहाति: abandons/gives up
• जहाति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (particle: or)

• स्वस्थः: being well/healthy
• स्वस्थः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (healthy/at ease)

• तामिस्रे: in Tāmisra (hell)
• तामिस्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तामिस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; नरकविशेष (hell named Tāmisra)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• मज्जति: sinks/is immersed
• मज्जति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मज्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इति अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग; अपादानार्थक (ablative sense: therefore/from that reason)

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): having given

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

• तेभ्यः: to them
• तेभ्यः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), बहुवचन

• द्वारस्थः: standing at the door
• द्वारस्थः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वार + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (द्वारे स्थितः = standing at the door)

• चिन्तयेत्: should reflect/think
• चिन्तयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• क्षणम्: for a moment
• क्षणम्: Karma (कर्म/Extent of action)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कालपरिमाण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; it gives a karmic-ethical warning: abandoning prescribed observance leads to ‘tāmisra’ (darkness), and prescribes bali to bhūtas followed by threshold-contemplation.

Significance: Teaches daily liminal practice: appease dependent beings (bhūtas) and recollect Śiva; supports household harmony and inner steadiness.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It warns that neglecting a prescribed Shaiva observance despite having the capacity leads to tamas (spiritual darkness), and it emphasizes restoring right order through offering and brief focused contemplation of Śiva (Pati) to regain clarity and auspiciousness.

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

The verse supports Saguna upāsanā through ritual action (bali as an act of dharma) followed by inner recollection; in Linga-worship this translates to completing outward duties and then centering the mind on Śiva’s presence before proceeding further.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer a bali to the addressed beings (as part of the rite), then pause at the threshold/doorway and contemplate Śiva for a moment—optionally with silent japa of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to steady the mind.