Shloka 18

नरकनामनिर्णयः

Catalogue of Narakas and Karmic Causes

Devanagari script

असिपत्रवनं याति वृक्षच्छेदी वृथैव यः । क्षुरभ्रका मृगव्याधा वह्निज्वाले पतंति ते

Transliteration

asipatravanaṃ yāti vṛkṣacchedī vṛthaiva yaḥ | kṣurabhrakā mṛgavyādhā vahnijvāle pataṃti te

Translation

He who senselessly fells trees goes to Asipatravana, the forest of sword-like leaves. Those cruel hunters, moving amid razor-edged thickets, fall into blazing fires. Thus violence done without dharma binds the soul in fierce suffering, far from the grace of Pati (Śiva).

Word by Word

• असि-पत्र-वनम्: the forest of sword-leaves (Asipatravana)
• असि-पत्र-वनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; गन्तव्यस्थान (object of motion)

• याति: goes
• याति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• वृक्ष-च्छेदी: tree-cutter
• वृक्ष-च्छेदी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + छेदिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-नाम (agent noun)

• वृथा: in vain, uselessly
• वृथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वृथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

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

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम

• क्षुर-अभ्रकाः: (in) Kṣurābhraka (a hell/torment)
• क्षुर-अभ्रकाः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुर (प्रातिपदिक) + अभ्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समाहार/समुच्चयार्थ-द्वन्द्व (razors and mica-like shards; hell-name)

• मृग-व्याधाः: hunters
• मृग-व्याधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक) + व्याध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्तृवाचक-नाम

• वह्नि-ज्वाले: in flames of fire
• वह्नि-ज्वाले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्वाला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), द्विवचन/एकवचन-रूपेण पाठभेदसम्भवः; अधिकरण (locative)

• पतन्ति: fall
• पतन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching Umā/Parvatī on dharma, pāśa, and the consequences of cruelty)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Āghoramūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It warns that needless harm—such as senselessly cutting trees or cruel hunting—creates heavy pāśa (karmic bondage) and results in painful states like Asipatravana, urging the soul to return to dharma and Śiva-centered compassion.

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

Linga-worship signifies honoring life and the cosmic order upheld by Śiva; this verse contrasts that reverence with adharma that violates creation. Devotion to Saguna Śiva is meant to purify conduct (ācāra) alongside mantra and pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice ahiṃsā as a vrata, recite the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with repentance and resolve, and perform Śiva-pūjā with bhasma/tripuṇḍra and sincere restraint from harm to beings and nature.