Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

अष्टाविंशतिसंख्याभिः क्षित्यधस्सप्तकोटयः । सप्तमस्य तलस्यांते घोरे तमसि संस्थितः

Transliteration

aṣṭāviṃśatisaṃkhyābhiḥ kṣityadhassaptakoṭayaḥ | saptamasya talasyāṃte ghore tamasi saṃsthitaḥ

Translation

Beneath the earth, at a depth measured as twenty‑eight and seven crores (of yojanas), at the far end of the seventh subterranean realm, he is situated in dreadful darkness.

Word by Word

• अष्टाविंशतिसंख्याभिः: by (those) of number twenty-eight
• अष्टाविंशतिसंख्याभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टाविंशति + संख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; ‘अष्टाविंशतिः’ इति संख्याया: सम्बन्धः—अष्टाविंशतिसंख्याभिः = ‘by (those) having the number twenty-eight’

• क्षिति: earth
• क्षिति: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (अव्ययीभाववत् स्थानवाचक प्रयोगः)

• अधः: below
• अधः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; here used as numeral qualifier to कोटयः

• कोटयः: crores/tiers (koṭis)
• कोटयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन

• सप्तमस्य: of the seventh
• सप्तमस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन; ordinal ‘of the seventh’

• तलस्य: of the level/stratum
• तलस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन

• अन्ते: at the end
• अन्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन; locative ‘at the end’

• घोरे: terrible
• घोरे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन; adjective qualifying तमसि

• तमसि: in darkness
• तमसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन

• संस्थितः: is situated/stands
• संस्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: संस्थित (√स्था धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘having been situated/standing’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Aghoramurti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it maps a cosmographic ‘adholoka’/pātāla depth where beings experience tamas (concealment) and karmic retribution.

Significance: Didactic: instills vairāgya and fear of pāśa (bondage), turning the paśu toward Śiva’s anugraha.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Adholoka/pātāla cosmography; ‘tamas’ as a cosmic condition of concealment (tirodhāna)

Characters & Entities

• Earth (Kṣiti)
• Tala (nether realms)
• Tamas (darkness)

FAQs

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

The verse uses cosmic geography to point to a Shaiva Siddhanta theme: tamas (spiritual obscuration) is the condition of deep bondage (pāśa). Liberation arises by turning from darkness toward Śiva, the Pati, through right knowledge and devotion.

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

By contrasting “dreadful darkness” with the implied need for divine light, the verse supports Saguna worship (Linga-archana, mantra, and bhakti) as an accessible means to pierce tamas and move toward the Nirguna truth of Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to reduce tamas through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), wearing rudrākṣa, and applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma) with a sattvic discipline—practices repeatedly praised in Shaiva tradition for overcoming inner darkness.