Shloka 26

नरकनामनिर्णयः

Catalogue of Narakas and Karmic Causes

Devanagari script

स्थावराः कृमिपाकाश्च पक्षिणः पशवो मृगाः । धार्मिकास्त्रिदशास्तद्वन्मोक्षिणश्च यथाक्रमम्

Transliteration

sthāvarāḥ kṛmipākāśca pakṣiṇaḥ paśavo mṛgāḥ | dhārmikāstridaśāstadvanmokṣiṇaśca yathākramam

Translation

In due order come the immobile beings (sthāvara), then worms and insects, then birds, then domestic animals and wild beasts; after them the righteous human beings, then the gods—and likewise, in that very sequence, those who attain liberation (mokṣa).

Word by Word

• स्थावराः: immobile beings (plants etc.)
• स्थावराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थावर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) बहुवचनम्

• कृमि-पाकाः: ‘kṛmipāka’ beings (worm-cooked/infested)
• कृमि-पाकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृमि + पाक (प्रातिपदिक; components)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (कृमिणां पाकाः / कृमिपाक-नामकाः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• पक्षिणः: birds
• पक्षिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) बहुवचनम्

• पशवः: animals/cattle
• पशवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) बहुवचनम्

• मृगाः: wild beasts/deer
• मृगाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) बहुवचनम्

• धार्मिकाः: the righteous
• धार्मिकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धार्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) बहुवचनम्; adjective used substantively

• त्रिदशाः: the thirty (gods)
• त्रिदशाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिदश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) बहुवचनम्

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय/तद्धितान्त)
• Form: अव्यय; तुलनार्थक (like that/similarly)

• मोक्षिणः: those who attain liberation
• मोक्षिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) बहुवचनम्; agent noun (one who attains liberation)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• यथा-क्रमम्: in due order
• यथा-क्रमम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक; components)
• Form: अव्ययीभावः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverb) ‘in due order/according to sequence’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Uma-saṃhitā teachings to the sages in the Shiva Purana’s discourse style)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

FAQs

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

It presents a graded ascent of embodied life, implying that consciousness matures through many births; by dharma and Shiva’s grace, the bound soul (paśu) can rise beyond lower embodiments toward liberation.

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

The verse frames liberation as a culmination of spiritual refinement; in the Shiva Purana, Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga devotion—purifies karma and steadies the mind, accelerating the soul’s rise toward moksha.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is dharmic living supported by Shiva-upāsanā: regular japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Linga-pūjā with bhasma and bilva, and disciplined conduct that reduces bondage (pāśa).