Shloka 8

नरकनामनिर्णयः

Catalogue of Narakas and Karmic Causes

Devanagari script

भ्रूणहा स्वर्णहर्ता च गोरोधी विश्वघातकः । सुरापो ब्रह्महंता च परद्रव्यापहारकः

Transliteration

bhrūṇahā svarṇahartā ca gorodhī viśvaghātakaḥ | surāpo brahmahaṃtā ca paradravyāpahārakaḥ

Translation

“A slayer of an unborn child, a stealer of gold, one who obstructs (or harms) cows, a destroyer of living beings, a drinker of intoxicants, a killer of a brāhmaṇa, and one who steals another’s property.”

Word by Word

• भ्रूणहा: slayer of an embryo
• भ्रूणहा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रूण (प्रातिपदिक) + हन् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (भ्रूणं हन्ति इति)

• स्वर्णहर्ता: stealer of gold
• स्वर्णहर्ता: समुच्चित-कर्ता (Co-subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + हृ (धातु) + तृ (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृ-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक (agent noun); उपपद-तत्पुरुष (स्वर्णं हरति)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (Conjunction)

• गोरोधी: one who obstructs/captures cows
• गोरोधी: समुच्चित-कर्ता (Co-subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + रुध् (धातु) + णिन्/ई (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक कृदन्त; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (गां रुणद्धि/रोधयति)

• विश्वघातकः: destroyer of the world/people
• विश्वघातकः: समुच्चित-कर्ता (Co-subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + घातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (विश्वस्य घातकः)

• सुरापः: drinker of liquor
• सुरापः: समुच्चित-कर्ता (Co-subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरा (प्रातिपदिक) + पा (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (सुरां पिबति)

• ब्रह्महन्ता: slayer of a Brahmin
• ब्रह्महन्ता: समुच्चित-कर्ता (Co-subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + हन् (धातु) + तृ (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृ-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्माणं हन्ति)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (Conjunction)

• परद्रव्यापहारकः: stealer of others’ property
• परद्रव्यापहारकः: समुच्चित-कर्ता (Co-subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अपहारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (परस्य द्रव्यस्य अपहारकः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it enumerates mahāpātakas (grave sins) that intensify pāśa (bondage) and obstruct eligibility for Śiva-bhakti and Śiva-dīkṣā until expiation.

Significance: Functions as a dharma-warning: avoidance of mahāpātakas is framed as a prerequisite for purity (śuddhi) and receptivity to Śiva’s anugraha.

FAQs

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

The verse enumerates major pāpas (grave sins) that intensify pāśa—karmic bondage binding the paśu (individual soul). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, such actions thicken impurity and obstruct the soul’s movement toward Shiva (Pati), making purification and sincere turning to Shiva essential.

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

By highlighting severe adharma, the text implicitly points to the need for śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) and prāyaścitta through Shiva-oriented devotion—Linga worship, mantra-japa, and disciplined conduct—so the devotee’s life aligns with dharma and becomes fit for Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical Shaiva takeaway is repentance with firm vow of non-repetition, followed by regular Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), Linga-pūjā with pure offerings, and adopting sāttvika discipline; where tradition applies, Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha may be taken up as aids to steady remembrance of Shiva.