Shloka 52

नरकयातनावर्णनम् / Description of Hell-Torments for Specific Transgressions

Devanagari script

एवमाद्या महाघोरा यातनाः पापकर्मणाम् । अंते यत्प्रतिपन्नं हि तत्संक्षेपेण संशृणु

Transliteration

evamādyā mahāghorā yātanāḥ pāpakarmaṇām | aṃte yatpratipannaṃ hi tatsaṃkṣepeṇa saṃśṛṇu

Translation

Such are the first of those exceedingly dreadful torments that befall the doers of sinful deeds. Now hear, in brief, what the soul meets with at the end (of that course).

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक

• आद्याः: the first/initial
• आद्याः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (यातनानाम्)

• महाघोराः: very terrible
• महाघोराः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाघोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः महा + घोर

• यातनाः: tortures, punishments
• यातनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यातना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पाप-कर्मणाम्: of those with sinful deeds
• पाप-कर्मणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष) पापं कर्म येषाम् / पापकर्म

• अन्ते: at the end
• अन्ते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• यत्: what/that which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• प्रतिपन्नम्: attained/undergone
• प्रतिपन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति-√पद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘attained/undergone’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/हेतु

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; निर्देश (that)

• संक्षेपेण: briefly, in summary
• संक्षेपेण: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संक्षेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; प्रकारे तृतीया (by way of)

• संशृणु: listen
• संशृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It underscores the Shaiva view that karma binds the pashu (individual soul) through pāśa (bondage), and that sinful actions ripen into intense suffering—prompting the seeker to turn toward Shiva as Pati, the liberator.

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

By highlighting the grim end of sinful trajectories, the text implicitly directs devotees toward Saguna Shiva worship—Linga-upāsanā, surrender, and purification—so that karmic bondage is attenuated and the soul becomes fit for Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily repentance and purification through Shiva-sādhanā—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), wearing Rudrākṣa, and applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma)—to restrain pāpa and cultivate śuddhi.