Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

रौरवाय प्रबोध्यंते नरकाणां शतं स्मृतम् । चत्वारिंशच्छतं प्रोक्तं महानरकमण्डलम्

Transliteration

rauravāya prabodhyaṃte narakāṇāṃ śataṃ smṛtam | catvāriṃśacchataṃ proktaṃ mahānarakamaṇḍalam

Translation

For the hell called Raurava, it is declared that a hundred hells are reckoned. And the great sphere of hell is said to consist of four hundred and forty divisions.

Word by Word

• रौरवाय: to/for Raurava (hell)
• रौरवाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raurava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रबोध्यन्ते: are made known/are explained
• प्रबोध्यन्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√budh (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive)

• नरकाणाम्: of the hells
• नरकाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्मृतम्: is remembered/recorded
• स्मृतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (Past Passive Participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (predicative)

• चत्वारिंशत्-शतम्: forty hundred (i.e., four thousand)
• चत्वारिंशत्-शतम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catvāriṃśat + śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (numerical compound); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रोक्तम्: is said/declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√vac (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (Past Passive Participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (predicative)

• महानरक-मण्डलम्: the great circle/region of hell
• महानरक-मण्डलम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + naraka + maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

FAQs

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

It emphasizes the vastness of karmic consequence: suffering-states (narakas) are many and graded, reminding the soul (paśu) that bondage (pāśa) is produced by actions and can be transcended only by turning toward Pati—Lord Shiva—through dharma, devotion, and inner purification.

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

By contrasting the many realms of suffering with Shiva’s saving grace, the verse indirectly supports Saguna Shiva worship (including Linga-upāsanā) as a remedial path: devotion, confession, and disciplined conduct aligned with Shiva reduce karmic burden and orient the devotee toward liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily Shiva-smaraṇa with the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and ethical restraint, as a Shaiva discipline to purify karma and avoid descending into painful states.