Shloka 34

नरकनामनिर्णयः

Catalogue of Narakas and Karmic Causes

Devanagari script

महेश्वरे मतिर्यस्य जपहोमार्चनादिपु । यत्पुण्यं तत्कृतं तेन देवेन्द्रत्वादिकं फलम्

Transliteration

maheśvare matiryasya japahomārcanādipu | yatpuṇyaṃ tatkṛtaṃ tena devendratvādikaṃ phalam

Translation

Whoever keeps the mind fixed on Mahādeva while performing disciplines such as mantra‑japa, homa (oblations into the sacred fire), worship (arcana), and the like—whatever merit arises from those acts is truly fulfilled by that person, and it bears fruits such as attaining the rank of Indra and other exalted divine attainments.

Word by Word

• महेश्वरे: in Maheshvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (location/ विषय)

• मतिः: mind/attention
• मतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; कर्तृपद-रूपेण (as subject)

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (possessor)

• जप: japa (repetition)
• जप: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूपेण समासाङ्ग (compound member)

• होम: homa (offering)
• होम: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूपेण समासाङ्ग (compound member)

• अर्चन: worship
• अर्चन: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूपेण समासाङ्ग (compound member)

• आदिषु: among (these) and the like
• आदिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन; 'आदि' = etc.; अधिकरण (in/among)

• यत्: whatever
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण (correlative)

• पुण्यम्: merit
• पुण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; कर्मपद (object)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण (correlative)

• कृतम्: done/performed
• कृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृ-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'done/performed'

• तेन: by him/thereby
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; करण (means/agent)

• देवेन्द्रत्वादिकम्: such as Indra-hood (lordship of gods), etc.
• देवेन्द्रत्वादिकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवेन्द्रत्व + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (देवेन्द्रत्वम् + आदि); विशेषण-रूपेण फलस्य

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Uma Samhita teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Indra

FAQs

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

It teaches that the decisive factor in spiritual merit is Shiva-centered intention (mati): when worship is performed with the mind anchored in Maheshvara, the merit becomes fully effective and bears high results.

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

Japa, homa, and arcana are classic Saguna modes of worship (often including Linga-arcana); the verse emphasizes that when these are performed with steady Shiva-bhāva, their fruits manifest powerfully.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular mantra-japa (such as the Panchakshara), homa, and Shiva-arcana performed with unwavering focus on Mahadeva—making inner remembrance the core of outer ritual.