Shloka 10

नरकनामनिर्णयः

Catalogue of Narakas and Karmic Causes

Devanagari script

साध्व्या विक्रयकृच्चाथ वार्द्धकी केशविक्रयी । तप्तलोहेषु पच्यंते यश्च भक्तं परित्यजेत्

Transliteration

sādhvyā vikrayakṛccātha vārddhakī keśavikrayī | taptaloheṣu pacyaṃte yaśca bhaktaṃ parityajet

Translation

A woman who lives by selling herself, one who practices prostitution, one who sells hair, and whoever forsakes a devotee—such persons are declared to be cooked in red‑hot iron.

Word by Word

• साध्व्या: by/with a chaste woman
• साध्व्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साध्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/सह) विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular feminine

• विक्रयकृत्: one who makes a sale; seller
• विक्रयकृत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विक्रय (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु) → कृत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त (कृदन्त) ‘कृत्’ = doer; Nominative singular masculine

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय; conjunction

• अथ: then/also
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर/प्रसङ्गबोधक अव्यय; particle/adverb

• वार्द्धकी: an old woman; aged one
• वार्द्धकी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्द्धकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular feminine

• केशविक्रयी: seller of hair
• केशविक्रयी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केश (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्रयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘केशान् विक्रीणाति’ इति; Nominative singular masculine

• तप्तलोहेषु: in/among heated iron (masses)
• तप्तलोहेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तप्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + लोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Locative plural neuter

• पच्यन्ते: are cooked/burned
• पच्यन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; Present indicative, 3rd person plural (middle/passive sense)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; relative pronoun; Nominative singular masculine

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय; conjunction

• भक्तम्: a devotee
• भक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular masculine

• परित्यजेत्: should abandon/renounce
• परित्यजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; Optative 3rd person singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana discourse to the sages, within the Uma Samhita’s ethical-philosophical teaching context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It warns against bhakta-aparādha (offense to devotees): forsaking or harming a true Śiva-bhakta is treated as a grave karmic fault, bringing intense suffering and obstructing the soul’s progress toward Shiva’s grace.

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

In Shaiva practice, reverence for the Liṅga is inseparable from reverence for Śiva’s devotees; honoring bhaktas is honoring Saguna Śiva’s living presence, while rejecting them contradicts authentic Liṅga-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to maintain bhakti with ethical purity: serve and respect Śiva-bhaktas, avoid bhakta-aparādha, and steady one’s devotion through japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") alongside disciplined conduct.