Shloka 11

नरकनामनिर्णयः

Catalogue of Narakas and Karmic Causes

Devanagari script

अवमंता गुरूणां यः पश्चाद्भोक्ता नराधमः । देवदूषयिता चैव देवविक्रयिकश्च यः

Transliteration

avamaṃtā gurūṇāṃ yaḥ paścādbhoktā narādhamaḥ | devadūṣayitā caiva devavikrayikaśca yaḥ

Translation

Whoever insults the gurus, and whoever eats only after others in a selfish and disgraceful way—that lowest of men; and whoever reviles the Devas and even traffics in them, turning worship into a commodity—is condemned by dharma and falls from the path of Śiva.

Word by Word

• अवमंता: one who disrespects/insults
• अवमंता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अव + मन् (धातु) → अवमन्तृ (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि ‘तृ’ प्रत्ययान्त; Nominative singular masculine

• गुरूणाम्: of the teachers/elders
• गुरूणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive plural masculine

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

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/क्रमबोधक अव्यय; adverb

• भोक्ता: eater/enjoyer
• भोक्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुज् (धातु) → भोक्तृ (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि ‘तृ’ प्रत्ययान्त; Nominative singular masculine

• नराधमः: the lowest of men
• नराधमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + अधम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘नराणाम् अधमः’ इति; Nominative singular masculine

• देवदूषयिता: one who reviles the gods
• देवदूषयिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + दूषयितृ (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘देवान् दूषयति’ इति; Nominative singular masculine

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

• एव: indeed/also
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणबोधक अव्यय; emphatic particle

• देवविक्रयिकः: seller of gods (idol-seller/one who sells divine things)
• देवविक्रयिकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्रयिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘देवान् विक्रीणाति’ इति; Nominative singular masculine

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

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana’s dharmic prohibitions within the Umāsaṃhitā discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it condemns guru-nindā and deva-nindā, which in Śaiva Siddhānta are prime causes of loss of adhikāra (eligibility) for mantra, pūjā, and dīkṣā.

Significance: Reinforces the sanctity of guru and deva-sevā; warns against commodifying worship (‘deva-vikraya’), which corrupts bhakti into transaction and strengthens pāśa.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas
• Guru

FAQs

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

It warns that spiritual downfall comes from core forms of pāśa (bondage): contempt for the guru, hypocrisy in conduct, and corrupting sacred worship—each of which blocks Śiva-bhakti and the maturation toward mokṣa.

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

Liṅga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship requires śraddhā, humility, and purity; insulting teachers and commodifying devotion turns worship into ego-driven transaction, undermining the very attitude by which Śiva’s grace is received.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice guru-sevā and respectful conduct, keep worship free from bargaining or profiteering, and maintain steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a clean intention, especially during vrata and pūjā.