Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

मंडूकाः पूतिवक्त्राश्च रक्ताक्षः पूतिमृत्तिकाः । कणधूम्रस्तथाग्निश्च कृमिगन्धिवपुस्तथा

Transliteration

maṃḍūkāḥ pūtivaktrāśca raktākṣaḥ pūtimṛttikāḥ | kaṇadhūmrastathāgniśca kṛmigandhivapustathā

Translation

“There are frog-like beings, those with foul mouths, red-eyed ones, and those smeared with stinking mud; there are also those who are smoke-dark, those who are fiery, and those whose bodies reek with the odor of worms.”

Word by Word

• मण्डूकाः: frogs
• मण्डूकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डूक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पूति-वक्त्राः: foul-faced
• पूति-वक्त्राः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूति (प्रातिपदिक) + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—“पूतिः वक्त्रं येषां ते/पूतिवक्त्राः” (foul-mouthed/foul-faced)

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

• रक्त-अक्षः: red-eyed (one)
• रक्त-अक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षि/अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—“रक्ते अक्षिणी यस्य” (red-eyed)

• पूति-मृत्तिकाः: foul-muddy
• पूति-मृत्तिकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूति (प्रातिपदिक) + मृत्तिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—“पूतिः मृत्तिका येषां ते” (having foul mud/earth)

• कण-धूम्रः: dusty-grey (one)
• कण-धूम्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कण (प्रातिपदिक) + धूम्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—“कणवत् धूम्रः/कणधूम्रः” (dusty/grey with particles)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)—“likewise/also”

• अग्निः: fire (Agni)
• अग्निः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• कृमि-गन्धि-वपुः: worm-smelling-bodied (one)
• कृमि-गन्धि-वपुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृमि (प्रातिपदिक) + गन्धिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी/उपपद-भावः)—“कृमिगन्धि वपुः” (a body having wormy smell)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)—“likewise/also”

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the Shaiva Siddhanta theme that impurity and bondage (pāśa) can drive consciousness into degraded conditions of embodiment, illustrating how karmic residues manifest as painful, impure, or repulsive forms until purified by right conduct and Shiva-oriented devotion.

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

By contrasting impure embodiments with the goal of liberation, it implicitly directs the seeker toward Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga worship—as a purifying discipline that burns karmic stains and turns the bound soul (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is purification through Shiva sādhanā: regular Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), Tripuṇḍra bhasma application, and disciplined conduct to reduce tamas and cleanse karmic impressions.