Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

ततश्शीतं तथा चोष्णं पंचाद्या नायकास्स्मृताः । सुघोरस्तु महातीक्ष्णस्तथा संजीवनः स्मृतः

Transliteration

tataśśītaṃ tathā coṣṇaṃ paṃcādyā nāyakāssmṛtāḥ | sughorastu mahātīkṣṇastathā saṃjīvanaḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

Thereafter, ‘Śīta’ and ‘Uṣṇa’ are remembered among the first five leading powers; and ‘Sughora’, ‘Mahātīkṣṇa’, and likewise ‘Saṃjīvana’ are also remembered as principal leaders.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्+तस्)
• Form: अव्ययम्; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्तम् (from that/then)

• शीतम्: Śīta (cold hell)
• शीतम्: कर्ता/कर्म (Contextual: item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचनम्; नरक-नाम

• तथा: also, likewise
• तथा: समुच्चय/क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (thus/also)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (conjunction)

• उष्णम्: Uṣṇa (hot hell)
• उष्णम्: कर्ता/कर्म (Contextual: item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; नरक-नाम

• पञ्चाद्याः: the five beginning (ones)
• पञ्चाद्याः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + आदि (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (पञ्च आद्याः = five beginning ones); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; नायकाः इति विशेषणम्

• नायकाः: leaders/chiefs (hells)
• नायकाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• स्मृताः: are said/are called
• स्मृताः: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः (क्त); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (are said/are remembered)

• सुघोरः: Sughora
• सुघोरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + घोर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमासः (अतिघोरः); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; नरक-नाम

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध-निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (contrast/emphasis)

• महातीक्ष्णः: Mahātīkṣṇa
• महातीक्ष्णः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमासः (अतितीक्ष्णः); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; नरक-नाम

• तथा: also
• तथा: समुच्चय/क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थक

• संजीवनः: Saṃjīvana
• संजीवनः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्+जीव् (धातु) → संजीवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; नरक-नाम

• स्मृतः: is said/remembered
• स्मृतः: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः (क्त); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse classifies certain governing powers (nāyakāḥ)—such as heat, cold, fierceness, and life-restoring force—showing that worldly opposites and vital energies operate under higher divine order; in Shaiva Siddhanta, these forces are ultimately subordinate to Pati (Shiva), the supreme Lord.

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

Worship of the Linga centers the devotee on Saguna Shiva as the Lord who regulates all manifest forces; remembering that even intense powers like ‘Sughora’ or ‘Mahātīkṣṇa’ are governed helps the worshipper surrender dualities and seek Shiva as the stable refuge behind changing conditions.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to meditate on Shiva while observing bodily dualities (heat/cold, comfort/discomfort) without agitation—mentally repeating the Panchakshara ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’ and offering that experience into the Linga as an act of inner surrender.