Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

पर्वतः क्षुरधारा च तथा यमलपर्वतः । मूत्रविष्ठाश्रुकूपश्च क्षारकूपश्च शीतलः

Transliteration

parvataḥ kṣuradhārā ca tathā yamalaparvataḥ | mūtraviṣṭhāśrukūpaśca kṣārakūpaśca śītalaḥ

Translation

There is the Mountain, the Razor-edged Ridge, and the Twin Mountain; there are also wells of urine, excrement, and blood, and the caustic (alkaline) well, and the freezing region. (These are named as fearsome hellish tracts where the bound soul experiences the fruits of its deeds.)

Word by Word

• पर्वतः: mountain
• पर्वतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—listed item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्षुरधारा: razor-edge; sharp blade-edge
• क्षुरधारा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—listed item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुरधारा (प्रातिपदिक: क्षुर + धारा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (क्षुरस्य धारा = razor-edge)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction: and)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/रीति (likewise/also)

• यमलपर्वतः: twin mountain
• यमलपर्वतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—listed item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यमलपर्वत (प्रातिपदिक: यमल + पर्वत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (यमलः पर्वतः = twin mountain)

• मूत्रविष्ठाश्रुकूपः: pit/well of urine, feces, and tears
• मूत्रविष्ठाश्रुकूपः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—listed item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूत्र-विष्ठा-अश्रु-कूप (प्रातिपदिक: मूत्र + विष्ठा + अश्रु + कूप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व/समाहार (मूत्रं विष्ठा अश्रु च—एतेषां कूपः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• क्षारकूपः: alkali pit; caustic well
• क्षारकूपः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—listed item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षारकूप (प्रातिपदिक: क्षार + कूप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (क्षारस्य कूपः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• शीतलः: cold
• शीतलः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies क्षारकूपः/पूर्वोक्त-वस्तु)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahakala

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

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

It underscores the Shaiva Siddhanta view that the bound soul (paśu), fettered by bonds (pāśa) like karma and impurity, must experience the precise results of its actions until it turns toward Shiva (Pati) for purification and liberation.

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

By showing the gravity of karmic bondage, it indirectly urges refuge in Saguna Shiva—worship of the Linga with devotion, right conduct, and repentance—so that karmas are purified and the soul is led toward Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), sincere confession and restraint (yama-niyama), and Shaiva marks like Tripuṇḍra with bhasma as reminders to live dharmically and seek Shiva’s purifying grace.