Shloka 15

नरकनामनिर्णयः

Catalogue of Narakas and Karmic Causes

Devanagari script

यश्चांत्यजेन संसेव्यो ह्यसद्ग्राही तु यो द्विजः । अयाज्ययाजकश्चैव तथैवाभक्ष्य भक्षकः

Transliteration

yaścāṃtyajena saṃsevyo hyasadgrāhī tu yo dvijaḥ | ayājyayājakaścaiva tathaivābhakṣya bhakṣakaḥ

Translation

That twice-born who keeps company with an outcaste, accepts what is unlawful, performs sacrifices for those unfit to be sacrificed for, and likewise eats what ought not to be eaten—such a person falls away from righteous conduct.

Word by Word

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

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक निपात (conjunction)

• अन्त्यजेन: with an outcaste
• अन्त्यजेन: Sahakari/Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त्यज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• संसेव्यः: fit to associate with/one who associates
• संसेव्यः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + सेव् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, भविष्यत्/विधेय-भाव: तव्यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive/passive necessity), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थ: ‘सेवितव्यः/सेव्यः’ (to be associated with/served)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), emphasis/causal

• असद्-ग्राही: one who accepts what is improper
• असद्-ग्राही: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असत् (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्राहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (असतः ग्राही)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

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

• द्विजः: a Brahmin (twice-born)
• द्विजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अयाज्य-याजकः: one who officiates for the unfit-to-sacrifice
• अयाज्य-याजकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयाज्य (प्रातिपदिक) + याजक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अयाज्यस्य याजकः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphasis)

• अभक्ष्य-भक्षकः: eater of what should not be eaten
• अभक्ष्य-भक्षकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अभक्ष्यस्य भक्षकः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Uma Samhita discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that outer worship must be supported by inner and social discipline; unethical association, illicit acceptance, and forbidden actions strengthen pasha (bondage) and obstruct the soul’s steadiness toward Shiva.

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

Linga-worship emphasizes purity of intention and supporting vows; this verse warns that ritual acts done while violating dharmic boundaries become spiritually unfruitful, weakening devotion to Saguna Shiva and readiness for Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain vow-based purity—right livelihood, right offerings, and disciplined diet—so that japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namah Shivaya), along with bhasma (Tripundra) and rudraksha, is performed with integrity and focus.