Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

दशमी तदधश्चण्डा महाचण्डा ततोऽप्यधः । चण्डकोलाहला चान्या प्रचण्डा चण्डनायिका

Transliteration

daśamī tadadhaścaṇḍā mahācaṇḍā tato'pyadhaḥ | caṇḍakolāhalā cānyā pracaṇḍā caṇḍanāyikā

Translation

The tenth level is Daśamī. Below that is Caṇḍā; still lower is Mahācaṇḍā. Beneath that again is another called Caṇḍakolāhalā; and then come Pracaṇḍā and Caṇḍanāyikā.

Word by Word

• दशमी: the tenth
• दशमी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; ordinal ‘the tenth’ (koṭi implied)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; used with अधः (‘below that’)

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

• चण्डा: Caṇḍā (fierce one)
• चण्डा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘fierce’ (name)

• महाचण्डा: Mahācaṇḍā
• महाचण्डा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + चण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘greatly fierce’

• ततः: then/from there
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय/तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: देश/क्रमवाचक अव्यय (ablatival adverb: ‘from there/then’)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारार्थक अव्यय (particle: ‘also/even’)

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

• चण्डकोलाहला: Caṇḍakolāhalā
• चण्डकोलाहला: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चण्ड + कोलाहल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘having fierce tumult’ / ‘fierce-noisy’ (name)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• अन्या: another
• अन्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘another’ (koṭi implied)

• प्रचण्डा: Pracaṇḍā
• प्रचण्डा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + चण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘very fierce’ (name)

• चण्डनायिका: Caṇḍanāyikā
• चण्डनायिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्ड + नायिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘leader/mistress of the fierce (ones)’ (name)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Kaalabhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; the sequence of Caṇḍā/Mahācaṇḍā etc. reads like personified fierce powers operating in punitive/terrifying regions under the governance of the Lord.

Significance: Functions as a deterrent narrative (bhaya-upadeśa) to turn the mind toward dharma and Śiva-bhakti.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Chandika

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Escalation of punitive/fierce strata—symbolic intensification of karmic consequence within adholoka.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It enumerates progressively fiercer named forms/levels of Śakti, indicating graded manifestations of divine power that operate in different cosmic and protective functions under Śiva’s lordship (Pati) in Shaiva Siddhanta.

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

In Linga/Saguna-Śiva worship, Śakti is understood as inseparable from Śiva; listing her fierce forms reminds the devotee that the Lord’s grace includes both gentle and protective/terrifying aspects that remove obstacles and bindages (pāśa).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with reverence to Umā-Śiva unity, paired with simple Shaiva disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa for inner protection and focus.