Shloka 33

नरकनामनिर्णयः

Catalogue of Narakas and Karmic Causes

Devanagari script

पापन्तरायो विप्रेन्द्र जपहोमार्चनादि च । भवत्येव न कुत्रापि त्रैलोक्ये मुनिसत्तम

Transliteration

pāpantarāyo viprendra japahomārcanādi ca | bhavatyeva na kutrāpi trailokye munisattama

Translation

O best of Brahmins, O foremost of sages: for one engaged in japa, homa, worship, and the like, an obstructing force born of sin indeed arises—there is no place in the three worlds where it does not occur.

Word by Word

• पाप-अन्तरायः: sinful obstacle
• पाप-अन्तरायः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तराय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः (determinative: 'obstacle due to sin' / 'sinful obstacle')

• विप्र-इन्द्र: O best of brāhmaṇas
• विप्र-इन्द्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), संबोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः ('chief among brāhmaṇas')

• जप-होम-अर्चन-आदि: japa, homa, worship, etc.
• जप-होम-अर्चन-आदि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक) + होम (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); द्वन्द्व-समास (copulative list) with 'ādi' (etc.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• भवति: arises/exists
• भवति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), अवधारणार्थक (indeed)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), निषेध (not)

• कुत्र: anywhere
• कुत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), प्रश्न/अनिर्देश-स्थानवाचक (where/anywhere)

• अपि: even, at all
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), अपि-कार (even/at all)

• त्रै-लोक्ये: in the three worlds
• त्रै-लोक्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी, Locative), एकवचन (Singular); द्विगु-समास ('three worlds')

• मुनि-सत्तम: O best of sages
• मुनि-सत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), संबोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः ('best among sages')

Speaker

Lord Shiva (instructing Umā/Parvati in the Umāsaṃhitā discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Warns that ritual and sādhana can be impeded by pāpa-born antarāyas; motivates purification, steadiness, and reliance on Śiva’s guidance to overcome concealment (tirodhāna).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

FAQs

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

It teaches that karmic residue (pāpa) naturally manifests as obstacles even in spiritual practice; recognizing this prevents discouragement and supports steady, Shiva-centered perseverance toward purification and liberation.

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

Linga/Saguna worship (arcana) is presented as a real, transformative practice, yet karmic impediments may still appear; the devotee is urged to continue worship with faith, letting Shiva’s grace and ongoing sadhana dissolve those hindrances.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular japa (especially Shiva-mantra), homa, and arcana—performed consistently and without interruption—are implied as the core remedies when sin-born obstacles arise.