Shloka 49
नरकलोकमार्गयमदूतस्वरूपवर्णनम् / Description of the Path to Naraka and the Nature of Yama’s Messengers
ये पुनः क्रूरकर्म्माणस्ते पश्यंति भयानकम् । दंष्ट्राकरालवदनं भृकुटीकुटिलेक्षणम्
ye punaḥ krūrakarmmāṇaste paśyaṃti bhayānakam | daṃṣṭrākarālavadanaṃ bhṛkuṭīkuṭilekṣaṇam
But those engaged in cruel deeds behold a terrifying vision—an awful face with protruding fangs, and eyes made crooked by a knotted, furrowed brow.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; it depicts the terrifying vision encountered by cruel-doers—an imagistic teaching on pāśa (bondage) through aśubha-karma and fearsome retribution.
Significance: Functions as moral deterrent and karmic instruction; in Siddhānta, such fearsome forms illustrate the soul’s experience under karma-mala and māyā.
Shakti Form: Kālī
Role: destructive
Cosmic Event: Post-mortem fright-vision (preta/karma-darśana motif) for krūra-karmā
FAQs
It teaches that cruelty (krūra-karma) strengthens pāśa—karmic bondage—and produces inner terror that manifests as frightening visions, urging the seeker to turn toward Shiva-centered purification and compassion.
By contrasting fearful perceptions born of impure karma with the stabilizing refuge of Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—which calms the mind, purifies tendencies, and redirects the gaze from terror to auspiciousness (śiva).
Adopt daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) with remembrance of Shiva, and practice ahiṁsā and self-restraint to weaken cruel impulses and their fearful karmic results.