Shloka 14
सामान्यतो नरकगतिवर्णनम्
General Description of the Course of Hell / Naraka-gati
तिला इव प्रपीड्यंते चक्राख्ये जनपिंडकाः । भ्रज्यंते चातपे तप्ते लोहभाण्डेष्वनेकधा
tilā iva prapīḍyaṃte cakrākhye janapiṃḍakāḥ | bhrajyaṃte cātape tapte lohabhāṇḍeṣvanekadhā
In the place called Cakra, masses of people are crushed as though they were sesame seeds; and in the blazing heat of the sun they are fried in many ways within red-hot iron vessels.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahākāla
Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara
Sthala Purana: By association of name: Mahākāla as Śiva who subdues Time; the Purāṇic sthala tradition at Ujjayinī presents Śiva as the guardian of the city and bestower of liberation; here the verse’s ‘Cakra’ hell is not the jyotirliṅga site but resonates with Mahākāla’s time-punishment symbolism.
Significance: Darśana of Mahākāla is sought for fearlessness before death/time and for purification of heavy karmas through devotion and discipline.
Shakti Form: Kālī
Role: destructive
Cosmic Event: Hell-scene keyed to solar heat (ātapa) as an instrument of karmaphala
FAQs
It vividly illustrates the fruit of binding karma (pāśa): when the soul (paśu) turns away from dharma and Shiva’s grace, it experiences intense suffering. The verse functions as a warning that liberation arises through purification, right conduct, and devotion to Pati (Lord Shiva).
By contrasting torment with the path of refuge, it implicitly points to Saguna Shiva—worshipped as the Linga—as the compassionate Lord who removes pāpa and loosens bondage. Devotional practices centered on the Linga are presented across the Purana as a means to transform karma and move toward Shiva’s liberating grace.
A practical takeaway is sincere Shiva-bhakti with daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with purificatory observances (e.g., vibhūti/tripuṇḍra and prayerful repentance), to reduce sinful tendencies and reorient the mind toward moksha.