Shloka 3

नरकनामनिर्णयः

Catalogue of Narakas and Karmic Causes

Devanagari script

वैतरणी पूयवहा कृमिणः कृमिभोजनः । असिपत्रवनं घोरं लालाभक्षश्च दारुणः

Transliteration

vaitaraṇī pūyavahā kṛmiṇaḥ kṛmibhojanaḥ | asipatravanaṃ ghoraṃ lālābhakṣaśca dāruṇaḥ

Translation

There is the Vaitaraṇī, the river of torment; the Pūyavahā, the river that carries filth; the realm of worms and the hell where worms are eaten; the dreadful forest of sword-like leaves; and the cruel state where one is made to feed on saliva—terrible indeed.

Word by Word

• vaitaraṇī: Vaitaraṇī (river/hell-stream)
• vaitaraṇī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; name of hell/river)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaitaraṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• pūyavahā: Pūyavahā (carrying pus)
• pūyavahā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; name)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūya + vahā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine); समासः—तत्पुरुष (pūyaṃ vahati)

• kṛmiṇaḥ: worms
• kṛmiṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; appositional list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• kṛmibhojanaḥ: Kṛmibhojana (worm-eating / whose food is worms)
• kṛmibhojanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; name/descriptor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛmi + bhojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine); समासः—तत्पुरुष (kṛmīṇāṃ bhojanaḥ / kṛmi-bhojanaḥ)

• asipatravanam: Asipatravana (forest of sword-like leaves)
• asipatravanam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; name in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asi + patra + vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); समासः—तत्पुरुष (asi-patrāṇi iva patraṇi yasya vanam)

• ghoram: terrible
• ghoram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग — vanam इति विशेष्येण सह

• lālābhakṣaḥ: Lālābhakṣa (eater of saliva/filth)
• lālābhakṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; name/descriptor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lālā + bhakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine); समासः—तत्पुरुष (lālāyāḥ bhakṣaḥ / lālāṃ bhakṣayati)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• dāruṇaḥ: cruel/terrible
• dāruṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dāruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine) — lālābhakṣaḥ इति विशेष्येण सह (or as independent epithet)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse catalogs terrifying karmic consequences (naraka-like states) to impress that bondage (pāśa) arises from adharma; liberation is attained by turning toward Pati (Śiva) through right conduct, devotion, and purification.

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

By contrasting the misery of karmic retribution with the refuge of Śiva, it supports the Purāṇic teaching that sincere Saguna worship—especially of the Śiva-liṅga with humility and repentance—purifies sin and redirects the soul toward grace and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to intensify Śiva-upāsanā: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), worship with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to purity, and living by dharma to avoid the karmic causes of such sufferings.