Shloka 14

नरकनामनिर्णयः

Catalogue of Narakas and Karmic Causes

Devanagari script

पितृदेवसुरान् यस्तु पर्यश्नाति नराधमः । लालाभक्षं स यात्यज्ञो यश्शस्त्रकूटकृन्नरः

Transliteration

pitṛdevasurān yastu paryaśnāti narādhamaḥ | lālābhakṣaṃ sa yātyajño yaśśastrakūṭakṛnnaraḥ

Translation

That vilest of men who, in arrogance and ignorance of dharma, eats first (or encroaches upon) the offerings meant for the Pitṛs, the Devas, and the Suras—he goes to the state of one who feeds on spittle; likewise does the man who forges counterfeit, deceitful weapons.

Word by Word

• पितृ-देव-सुरान्: the Pitṛs, gods, and Suras
• पितृ-देव-सुरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (collective/coproductive)

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

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), adversative/emphatic

• पर्यश्नाति: eats/consumes
• पर्यश्नाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: परि-; अर्थ: to eat/consume

• नर-अधमः: the lowest of men
• नर-अधमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + अधम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नराणाम् अधमः)

• लाला-भक्षम्: saliva-eating (one who eats saliva/impure leavings)
• लाला-भक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाला (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लालायाः भक्षः)

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

• याति: goes/becomes
• याति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• अज्ञः: ignorant
• अज्ञः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate adjective)

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

• शस्त्र-कूट-कृत्-नरः: a man who forges weapons
• शस्त्र-कूट-कृत्-नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कूट (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु) + नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: कूटं करोति इति कूटकृत्; शस्त्रस्य कूटकृत् (forger of weapons)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-dharma teachings as received in the Purana tradition)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Naraka-phala for pitṛ/deva-apacāra and deceitful violence (kūṭa-śastra)

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs
• Devas
• Suras

FAQs

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

It teaches that disrespecting sacred recipients (Pitṛs and Devas) and engaging in deceitful harm (weapon-forgery) creates heavy pāśa (bondage) through adharma, leading to degraded states of experience; Shaiva practice insists on purity, right order, and reverence to reduce karmic impurity and move toward Shiva’s grace.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is not only ritual but ethical: offerings (naivedya) and acts of reverence must be done in proper order and with integrity. Disregard for offerings to Pitṛs/Devas contradicts the disciplined conduct expected of a devotee approaching Saguna Shiva through the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain strict naivedya discipline—offer first to Shiva (as prescribed), and honor Pitṛ-tarpaṇa and deva-offerings in their proper sequence; cultivate inner purity through japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and truthful livelihood, avoiding deceit and harm.