Shloka 11

नरकलोकवर्णनम् (Narakaloka-varṇanam) — Description of the Hell-Realms

Devanagari script

इति कर्म्म समुद्दिश्य नृपाणां धर्म्मराड्यमः । तत्पापपंकशुद्ध्यर्थमिदं दूतान्ब्रवीति च

Transliteration

iti karmma samuddiśya nṛpāṇāṃ dharmmarāḍyamaḥ | tatpāpapaṃkaśuddhyarthamidaṃ dūtānbravīti ca

Translation

Having thus indicated the duty that constitutes righteous kingship for rulers, he then spoke these words to the messengers, intending the cleansing of that muddy mire of sin.

Word by Word

• इति: thus; saying
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-समाप्तिसूचक/quotative particle

• कर्म: deed; act
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• समुद्दिश्य: having indicated; referring to
• समुद्दिश्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+उद्+दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having indicated/aimed at’

• नृपाणाम्: of kings
• नृपाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• धर्मराजः: Dharma-king (Yama)
• धर्मराजः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मराज (प्रातिपदिक: धर्म+राज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य राजा)

• यमः: Yama
• यमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; धर्मराजस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Demonstrative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘पापपङ्कशुद्ध्यर्थम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण (that)

• पाप: sin
• पाप: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound-member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूप (समासाङ्ग)

• पङ्क: mud; mire
• पङ्क: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound-member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूप (समासाङ्ग)

• शुद्धि: purification
• शुद्धि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound-member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूप (समासाङ्ग)

• अर्थम्: for the sake of
• अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/उद्देश्य), एकवचन; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुषार्थः (शुद्ध्यर्थम् = शुद्धये अर्थः)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• दूतान्: messengers
• दूतान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• ब्रवीति: says; speaks
• ब्रवीति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Uma-saṃhitā account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames dharmic governance as a purifying discipline: right action (karma aligned with dharma) cleanses the inner “mire of sin,” preparing the soul for Shiva’s grace and liberation.

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

In Shaiva Siddhanta, purification (śuddhi) is essential for fruitful Saguna Shiva worship—approaching the Linga with ethical conduct and dharma makes devotion steady and fit to receive Pati’s (Shiva’s) anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse emphasizes śuddhi (purification); a practical takeaway is daily repentance and dharmic resolve paired with Shiva-japa—especially the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a means to wash away pāpa.