Shloka 28

नरकनामनिर्णयः

Catalogue of Narakas and Karmic Causes

Devanagari script

गुरूणि गुरुभिश्चैव लघूनि लघुभिस्तथा । प्रायश्चित्तानि कालेय मनुस्स्वायम्भुवोऽब्रवीत्

Transliteration

gurūṇi gurubhiścaiva laghūni laghubhistathā | prāyaścittāni kāleya manussvāyambhuvo'bravīt

Translation

O Kāleya, Svāyambhuva Manu taught that grave faults are to be atoned for by grave expiations, and light faults likewise by light expiations—each in proper measure and at the proper time.

Word by Word

• gurūṇi: heavy (major ones)
• gurūṇi: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; विशेषण (heavy/major)

• gurubhiḥ: by/with the heavy (ones)
• gurubhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• eva: indeed, just
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• laghūṇi: light (minor ones)
• laghūṇi: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: laghu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; विशेषण (light/minor)

• laghubhiḥ: by/with the light (ones)
• laghubhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laghu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थे (likewise/so)

• prāyaścittāni: atonements, expiations
• prāyaścittāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāyaścitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन

• kāleya: O Kāleya
• kāleya: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāleya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; संबोधन-प्रयोग (O Kāleya)

• manuḥ: Manu
• manuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• svāyambhuvaḥ: Svāyambhuva
• svāyambhuvaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svāyambhuva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण (epithet of Manu)

• abravīt: said, declared
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (ब्रू) (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Uma Samhita teachings, citing Svayambhuva Manu)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Svayambhuva Manu
• Kāleya

FAQs

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

It teaches proportional spiritual accountability: karmic impurities (pāśa) are reduced through appropriately measured expiation, preparing the soul (paśu) for Shiva’s grace and inner purification.

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

It supports disciplined Shaiva living: sincere repentance and corrective vows align the devotee with dharma, making Linga-worship fruitful by removing obstacles (mala and karmic burdens) that hinder devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt proportionate prāyaścitta such as vrata, japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and regulated austerity according to the fault—without excess or negligence.