Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

अग्नीध्रश्चाप्रतिष्ठश्च रुधिराभश्श्वभोजनः । लाला भेक्षांत्रभक्षौ च सर्वभक्षः सुदारुणः

Transliteration

agnīdhraścāpratiṣṭhaśca rudhirābhaśśvabhojanaḥ | lālā bhekṣāṃtrabhakṣau ca sarvabhakṣaḥ sudāruṇaḥ

Translation

“(There are beings known as) Agnīdhra and Apratiṣṭha; Rudhirābha (the blood-hued) and Śvabhojana (dog-eater); Lālā, Bhekṣāntrabhakṣa (devourer of frogs and entrails), and Sarvabhakṣa (eater of all). They are exceedingly fierce.”

Word by Word

• अग्नीध्रः: Agnīdhra (name)
• अग्नीध्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नीध्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (name/epithet)

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

• अप्रतिष्ठः: unstable; without standing
• अप्रतिष्ठः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-प्रतिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-समास/उपसर्गयुक्त—“without stability/without support”

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

• रुधिर-आभः: blood-hued (one)
• रुधिर-आभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुधिर (प्रातिपदिक) + आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—“रुधिर इव आभा यस्य” (blood-colored/with bloody hue)

• श्व-भोजनः: dog-eater; feeding on dogs
• श्व-भोजनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वन् (प्रातिपदिक) + भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—“श्वानां भोजनः/श्वभोजनः” (dog-eater / one whose food is dogs)

• लाला: Lālā (name)
• लाला: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (name/epithet)

• भेक्ष-अन्त्र-भक्षौ: frog-eater and entrails-eater (two)
• भेक्ष-अन्त्र-भक्षौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वः—“भेक्षांत्रभक्षौ” = “भेक्षभक्षश्च अन्त्रभक्षश्च” (frog-eater and entrails-eater)

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

• सर्व-भक्षः: all-devouring
• सर्व-भक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—“सर्वं भक्षयति/सर्वभक्षः” (all-devouring)

• सुदारुणः: very dreadful
• सुदारुणः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपसर्गयुक्त विशेषण—“very dreadful”

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Kālabhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights terrifying, tamasic forces and beings, implying that worldly fear and impurity are real at the level of saṃsāra, while refuge in Pati (Lord Shiva) enables the soul (paśu) to transcend such dread through grace and right devotion.

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

By cataloging fierce presences, the text indirectly points to Saguna Shiva—worshiped as the Linga—as the stabilizing protector and purifier who subdues chaotic energies and grants auspiciousness (śiva-tattva) to the devotee.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Take refuge in Shiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and purity disciplines; if fearful influences are felt, combine mantra-japa with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva protective observances.