Shloka 20

नरकनामनिर्णयः

Catalogue of Narakas and Karmic Causes

Devanagari script

व्रतस्य लोपका ये च स्वाश्रमाद्विच्युताश्च ये । संदंशयातनामध्ये पतंति भृशदारुणे

Transliteration

vratasya lopakā ye ca svāśramādvicyutāśca ye | saṃdaṃśayātanāmadhye pataṃti bhṛśadāruṇe

Translation

Those who destroy or abandon their sacred vows (vrata), and those who fall away from the discipline of their own āśrama, plunge into the terribly cruel torment called “Sandaṃśa,” a hell of relentless suffering.

Word by Word

• व्रतस्य: of the vow
• व्रतस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• लोपकाः: destroyers/violators
• लोपकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोपक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्तृवाचक-नाम

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

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

• स्व-आश्रमात्: from one’s own āśrama/stage of life
• स्व-आश्रमात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; अपादान (ablative)

• विच्युताः: fallen away, deviated
• विच्युताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+च्युत (कृदन्त; √च्यु ‘to fall/move away’)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘ये’ इत्यस्य

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

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

• संदंश-यातना-मध्ये: in the midst of the ‘Saṃdaṃśa’ torment
• संदंश-यातना-मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संदंश (प्रातिपदिक) + यातना (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

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

• भृश-दारुणे: in the exceedingly dreadful (place)
• भृश-दारुणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भृश (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘मध्ये’ इत्यस्य (locative agreement)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana account to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Umāsaṃhitā discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Affirms the Śaiva Siddhānta stress on niyama and vrata as purifiers; vow-breaking strengthens pāśa and blocks the descent of anugraha.

FAQs

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

It warns that violating vowed disciplines (vrata) and abandoning one’s āśrama-dharma strengthens pāśa (bondage) and leads to painful karmic retribution; steadiness in dharma is presented as a prerequisite for purification and eventual grace-oriented liberation in the Shaiva frame.

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

Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva devotion in the Shiva Purana are repeatedly tied to niyama—truthfulness, purity, and vow-keeping. This verse underscores that outer worship without inner discipline becomes hollow; vrata supports the devotee’s fitness (adhikāra) for Shiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain one’s chosen Shiva-vrata with consistency—daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), purity disciplines, and regulated conduct suited to one’s āśrama; these stabilize the mind and prevent vow-lapse that creates heavier karmic bondage.