Shloka 49

नरकयातनावर्णनम् / Description of Hell-Torments for Specific Transgressions

Devanagari script

ततोऽन्नं प्रियमेवाश्नन्नरः शृंखलवान्पुनः । जिह्वावेगेन विद्धोत्र चिरं कालं स तिष्ठति

Transliteration

tato'nnaṃ priyamevāśnannaraḥ śṛṃkhalavānpunaḥ | jihvāvegena viddhotra ciraṃ kālaṃ sa tiṣṭhati

Translation

Then, eating only what is pleasing, a man becomes bound again as though in chains. Here, wounded by the impulse of the tongue, he remains entangled for a long time.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तद्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय; अपादान/क्रमवाचक (then/from there)

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रियम्: dear, pleasing
• प्रियम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (अन्नस्य)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (particle of emphasis)

• अश्नन्: eating
• अश्नन्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमा-पुरुष?; वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तरूप (present active participle) पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘अश्नन्’ = eating

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• शृंखलवान्: having chains, chained
• शृंखलवान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शृंखला (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तद्धितान्त विशेषण (possessive: -वत्)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्तिवाचक (again)

• जिह्वा-वेगेन: by the impulse of the tongue (craving)
• जिह्वा-वेगेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक) + वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) जिह्वायाः वेगः

• विद्धः: afflicted, pierced
• विद्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यध्/विध् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘pierced/afflicted’

• उत्र: there
• उत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb: there)

• चिरम्: for long
• चिरम्: Kālādhi karaṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिरम् (अव्यय/नपुंसक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (for a long time)

• कालम्: time
• कालम्: Kālādhi karaṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कालपरिमाण (extent of time)

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

• तिष्ठति: remains, stays
• तिष्ठति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमा-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it teaches the bondage caused by jihvā-vega (compulsion of taste), a classic ethical-psychological cause of saṃsāric re-binding.

Significance: General teaching: restraint of senses (indriya-nigraha) supports śiva-bhakti and reduces pāśa (bondage).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that attachment to pleasurable taste (jihvā-vega) becomes a form of pāśa—bondage that keeps the pashu (individual soul) tied to worldly impulses, delaying steadiness and liberation under Pati (Shiva).

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is paired with inner purification; without restraining sense-cravings, devotion becomes outward-only. Mastery over the tongue supports sattva, making the mind fit for focused Saguna Shiva worship and deeper contemplation of Shiva beyond qualities.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Moderation and disciplined fasting (upavāsa) on Shiva days, mindful offering and partaking of naivedya/prasada without indulgence, and japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to steady the senses—especially the tongue.