Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

तानपि क्रोधसंयुक्तश्चित्रगुप्तो महाप्रभुः । संशिक्षयति धर्मज्ञो यमराजानुशिक्षया

Transliteration

tānapi krodhasaṃyuktaścitragupto mahāprabhuḥ | saṃśikṣayati dharmajño yamarājānuśikṣayā

Translation

Even those souls, the great lord Chitragupta—filled with stern wrath and skilled in dharma—disciplines and corrects, acting in accordance with the instruction and governance of King Yama.

Word by Word

• tān: them
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थक अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• krodha-saṃyuktaḥ: joined with anger/angered
• krodha-saṃyuktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krodha (क्रोध प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyukta (संयुक्त, कृदन्त from √yuj ‘to join’, क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (क्रोधेन संयुक्तः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); संयुक्त = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP)

• citraguptaḥ: Citragupta
• citraguptaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citragupta (चित्रगुप्त प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• mahā-prabhuḥ: the great lord
• mahā-prabhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (महा प्रातिपदिक) + prabhu (प्रभु प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• saṃśikṣayati: instructs/trains/punishes
• saṃśikṣayati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ + √śikṣ (शिक्ष् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• dharma-jñaḥ: knower of dharma
• dharma-jñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (धर्म प्रातिपदिक) + jña (ज्ञ प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (धर्मं जानाति), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• yamarāja-anuśikṣayā: by the instruction of Yamarāja
• yamarāja-anuśikṣayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yamarāja (यमराज प्रातिपदिक) + anuśikṣā (अनुशिक्षा प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (यमराजस्य अनुशिक्षया), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Chitragupta
• Yamaraja

FAQs

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

It emphasizes the inevitability of karmic accountability: Chitragupta, as the recorder and enforcer of moral law, ensures that beings face correction according to dharma under Yama’s authority—urging devotees toward righteous living and Shiva-oriented liberation.

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

By highlighting karmic judgment, the verse indirectly points to the refuge of Saguna Shiva (worshipped as the Linga), whose grace and right practice purify conduct; devotion aligned with dharma reduces bondage (pāśa) and supports the soul’s turning toward Pati (Shiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily self-examination of karma with japa of the Panchakshara mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and dharmic restraint; pairing it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as reminders of accountability and Shiva-bhakti is consistent with Shaiva practice.