Shloka 17
नरकलोकमार्गयमदूतस्वरूपवर्णनम् / Description of the Path to Naraka and the Nature of Yama’s Messengers
मक्षिकाभिश्च रौद्राभिः क्वचित्सर्पैर्विषोल्बणैः । मत्तमातंगयूथैश्च बलोन्मत्तैः प्रमाथिभिः
makṣikābhiśca raudrābhiḥ kvacitsarpairviṣolbaṇaiḥ | mattamātaṃgayūthaiśca balonmattaiḥ pramāthibhiḥ
In some places there were fierce swarms of flies; elsewhere, serpents swollen with deadly poison; and also herds of rutting elephants—maddened by their strength—causing terror and devastation.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Bhairava
FAQs
It portrays the frightening forces of the world—poison, terror, and overpowering strength—as forms of pasha (bondage) that agitate the embodied soul (pashu), urging refuge in Shiva, the liberating Pati.
Such dangers symbolize the mind’s turmoil and external threats; worship of Saguna Shiva through the Linga is presented in the Purana as a concrete refuge that steadies fear and leads the devotee toward Shiva’s grace.
Take this as a prompt for protective japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady dhyāna on Shiva; if following Purāṇic practice, combine with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as supports for fearlessness and discipline.