Shloka 25

अधश्शिरोभिर्दृश्यंते नारका दिवि दैवतैः । देवानधोमुखान्सर्वानधः पश्यंति नारकाः

adhaśśirobhirdṛśyaṃte nārakā divi daivataiḥ | devānadhomukhānsarvānadhaḥ paśyaṃti nārakāḥ

In heaven, the gods behold the denizens of hell as though they were upside down. And the hell-bound, seeing all the gods as turned downward, look up at them from below.

अधः-शिरोभिःwith heads downward
अधः-शिरोभिः:
Karana (करण)
TypeAdjective
Rootअधः + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक; components)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd) बहुवचनम्; अव्ययीभावः (अधः = down) + शिरोभिः; adverbial compound meaning ‘with heads down’
दृश्यन्तेare seen
दृश्यन्ते:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootदृश् (धातु)
Formलट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), बहुवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive)
नारकाःthe hell-dwellers
नारकाः:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootनारक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) बहुवचनम्
दिविin heaven
दिवि:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootदिव् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th) एकवचनम् (locative)
दैवतैःby the gods
दैवतैः:
Kartr-karana (कर्ता/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootदैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd) बहुवचनम्; instrumental
देवान्the gods
देवान्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd) बहुवचनम्
अधो-मुखान्down-faced
अधो-मुखान्:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootअधः + मुख (प्रातिपदिक; components)
Formपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd) बहुवचनम्; अव्ययीभावः (अधः) + मुख; qualifying ‘देवान्’
सर्वान्all
सर्वान्:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd) बहुवचनम्; qualifying ‘देवान्’
अधःdownwards
अधः:
Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअधः (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; दिशावाचक/क्रियाविशेषण (downwards)
पश्यन्तिsee
पश्यन्ति:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootपश् (धातु)
Formलट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्
नारकाःthe hell-dwellers
नारकाः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootनारक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) बहुवचनम्

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana discourse to the sages, Uma Samhita philosophical context)

Tattva Level: pasha

D
Devas
N
Naraka

FAQs

It illustrates the karmic hierarchy of experience: beings in svarga and naraka perceive each other through the lens of their karmic station, reminding the seeker that pleasure and pain are conditioned states under pasha (bondage), not final liberation.

By contrasting heaven and hell as relative outcomes, the verse implicitly directs devotion beyond temporary karmic results toward Saguna Shiva (worshipped as the Linga), whose grace leads the bound soul (pashu) beyond both svarga and naraka toward Shiva’s state.

Contemplate the impermanence of karmic worlds while repeating the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with humility; cultivate Tripundra-bhasma and Rudraksha as reminders of vairagya (dispassion) and the aim of moksha rather than heavenly reward.