Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

महातमो विलोमश्च विलोपश्चापि कंटक । तीव्रवेगः करालश्च विकरालः प्रकंपनः

Transliteration

mahātamo vilomaśca vilopaścāpi kaṃṭaka | tīvravegaḥ karālaśca vikarālaḥ prakaṃpanaḥ

Translation

“(They are called) Mahātamas, Viloma, Vilopa, and also Kaṇṭaka; (as well as) Tīvravega, Karāla, Vikarāla, and Prakaṃpana.”

Word by Word

• mahā-tamaḥ: great darkness (Mahātama)
• mahā-tamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / Appositional epithet
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मधारय: great darkness; used as a name/epithet

• vilomaḥ: Viloma (contrary/inverted one)
• vilomaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / Apposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: viloma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; epithet/name

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• vilopaḥ: Vilopa (destroyer/obliteration)
• vilopaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / Apposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: vilopa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; epithet/name

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) meaning 'also/even'

• kaṇṭaka: O Kaṇṭaka (thorn-like one)
• kaṇṭaka: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṇṭaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; direct address

• tīvra-vegaḥ: fierce-speed (Tīvravega)
• tīvra-vegaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / Apposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīvra (प्रातिपदिक) + vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मधारय: one with fierce speed; epithet/name

• karālaḥ: Karāla (terrifying)
• karālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / Apposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: karāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; epithet/name

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• vikarālaḥ: Vikarāla (very terrifying)
• vikarālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / Apposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: vikarāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; epithet/name

• prakaṃpanaḥ: Prakaṃpana (trembler/causing trembling)
• prakaṃpanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / Apposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: prakaṃpana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; epithet/name

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; this is a catalog of terrifying punitive/obstructive agencies (often read as yamadūta-like or naraka-guardian names) functioning under cosmic law.

Significance: Didactic: instills fear of pāśa (bondage) and motivates dharma and Śiva-bhakti as the means to avoid lower destinies.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse lists specific fearsome names/forms associated with Shiva’s protective, transformative power—reminding the devotee that even terrifying energies ultimately serve Pati (Shiva) in removing obstacles (pāśa) and steadying the soul (paśu) toward liberation.

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

These names point to Saguna Shiva’s functional aspects—his commanded forces that protect dharma and dissolve negativity. In Linga worship, devotees honor Shiva as the supreme Pati whose manifested powers govern and purify the worlds.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use nāma-smaraṇa (remembrance of Shiva’s names) with “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and mentally offer these forces into the Linga as protective śakti; this supports inner steadiness (dhyāna) when facing fear, agitation, or obstacles.