Shloka 9

नरकयातनावर्णनम् / Description of Hell-Torments for Specific Transgressions

Devanagari script

त्रपुसीसारकूटाद्भिः क्षीरेण च पुनःपुनः । सुतप्ततीक्ष्णतैलेन वज्रलेपेन वा पुनः

Transliteration

trapusīsārakūṭādbhiḥ kṣīreṇa ca punaḥpunaḥ | sutaptatīkṣṇatailena vajralepena vā punaḥ

Translation

Again and again it should be treated with the decoction/essence drawn from trapusī and sāraka, and also with milk; or again with sharply heated oil, or with a hard-setting ‘vajra-plaster’, adamantine in its coating.

Word by Word

• trapusī-sāra-kūṭāt: from the trapusī-essence powder
• trapusī-sāra-kūṭāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: trapusī (प्रातिपदिक) + sāra (प्रातिपदिक) + kūṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Pañcamī (Ablative/पञ्चमी), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); compound meaning 'from the powder/essence of trapusī'

• adbhiḥ: with waters
• adbhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ap (प्रातिपदिक; irregular ‘water’)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन)

• kṣīreṇa: with milk
• kṣīreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/तृतीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avya ya (Conjunction/समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• punaḥ-punaḥ: again and again
• punaḥ-punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Abhyāsa-avyaya (Iterative adverb/पुनरुक्ति-अव्यय)

• sutapta-tīkṣṇa-tailena: with well-heated pungent oil
• sutapta-tīkṣṇa-tailena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sutapta (कृदन्त; su + √tap, past participle) + tīkṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + taila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/तृतीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); compound: 'with very-heated sharp oil'

• vajralepena: with vajra-plaster/coating
• vajralepena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajralepa (प्रातिपदिक; vajra + lepa)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/तृतीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-avya ya (Disjunctive particle/विकल्प-अव्यय)

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, punar-artha adverb (Adverb/पुनरर्थ)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Uma Samhita teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Vaidyanātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Vaidyanātha

Sthala Purana: Vaidyanātha is remembered as the ‘physician’ Lord who heals afflictions; the verse’s medicinal substances (herbal decoction, milk, oils, plaster) align with a healing/therapeutic register, even if here used in a punitive or corrective procedure.

Significance: Pilgrims seek relief from disease and suffering; the theological subtext is that true healing culminates in removal of pāśa (karmic/impurity) through devotion and grace.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes repeated purification and careful preparation in Shiva’s worship, reflecting the Shaiva Siddhanta ideal that disciplined, reverent action (kriyā) supports inner purity and steadiness of devotion.

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

The verse describes practical substances used for repeated treatment/coating—typical of Linga-upacāra—showing Saguna worship where the devotee serves Shiva through tangible, sanctifying acts offered with bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A takeaway is consistent, repeated ritual care during worship—pairing external purification (ablution/processing) with internal remembrance, ideally accompanied by japa of the Panchakshara mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” while performing the service.