Shloka 2

नरकनामनिर्णयः

Catalogue of Narakas and Karmic Causes

Devanagari script

रौरवश्शूकरो रोधस्तालो विवसनस्तथा । महाज्वालस्तप्तकुंभो लवणोपि विलोहितः

Transliteration

rauravaśśūkaro rodhastālo vivasanastathā | mahājvālastaptakuṃbho lavaṇopi vilohitaḥ

Translation

“(There are) Raurava, Śūkara, Rodhas, Tāla, and also Vivasana; likewise Mahājvāla, Taptakumbha, Lavaṇa, and Vilohita.”

Word by Word

• रौरवः: Raurava (name)
• रौरवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• शूकरः: boar; Śūkara (name)
• शूकरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• रोधः: Rodha (name); obstruction
• रोधः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तालः: Tāla (name); palm-tree
• तालः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• विवसनः: naked; unclothed (name/epithet)
• विवसनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विवसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjectival use)

• तथा: and also; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/उपपद-अर्थे (adverb/conj. sense)

• महाज्वालः: Great-flame (name)
• महाज्वालः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्वाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (विशेषण-विशेष्य)

• तप्तकुम्भः: Heated-pot (name)
• तप्तकुम्भः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तप्त (कृदन्त; तप्-धातु, क्त) + कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः तत्पुरुष (heated-pot)

• लवणः: Salt (name)
• लवणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• विलोहितः: reddish; crimson (name/epithet)
• विलोहितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विलोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahākāla

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A formal naming of narakas (hell-realms). Though ‘Mahākāla’ appears as a name here (Mahājvāla etc.), the passage is not the Mahākāleśvara Jyotirliṅga māhātmya; it is a karmic topography.

Significance: Serves as deterrent and moral instruction; encourages dharma and Śiva-oriented purification to avoid pāpa that leads to these states.

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse lists specific narakas (regions of karmic suffering), emphasizing Shaiva ethics: actions create bondage (pāśa), and only purification through dharma and turning toward Pati (Śiva) leads beyond fear and suffering.

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

By contrasting karmic punishment with liberation, the text implicitly points to Saguna Shiva worship—Linga-upāsanā, devotion, and surrender—as a purifying path that burns impurities (mala) and loosens karmic fetters.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is regular Shiva-sādhana for purification—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa observances—supported by ethical living to avoid karmic downfall.