Shloka 19

सामान्यतो नरकगतिवर्णनम्

General Description of the Course of Hell / Naraka-gati

Devanagari script

घृतेनात्यन्ततप्तेन तदा तैलेन तन्मुखम् । इतस्ततः पीडयित्वा भृशमापूर्य्य हन्यते

Transliteration

ghṛtenātyantataptena tadā tailena tanmukham | itastataḥ pīḍayitvā bhṛśamāpūryya hanyate

Translation

Then his face is struck after being forcefully pressed from this side and that, first with extremely heated ghee and then with oil—filled and inflamed intensely, he is tormented.

Word by Word

• घृतेन: with ghee
• घृतेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (3rd case)

• अत्यन्ततप्तेन: extremely heated
• अत्यन्ततप्तेन: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अत्यन्त-तप्त (प्रातिपदिक; तप् (धातु) → तप्त (कृदन्त))
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; past passive participle (क्त) used adjectivally; agrees with घृत/तैल

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय; temporal adverb

• तैलेन: with oil
• तैलेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• मुखम्: face/mouth
• मुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• इतस्: from here/this side
• इतस्: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: दिशावाचक-अव्यय; adverb ‘from here/this side’

• ततः: from there/that side
• ततः: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: दिशा/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय; adverb ‘from there/then’

• पीडयित्वा: having pressed/tortured
• पीडयित्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पीड् (धातु) → पीडयितुम् (तुमुन्) → पीडयित्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: अव्यय-भावे क्त्वान्त (gerund); ‘having pressed/tortured’

• भृशम्: excessively, violently
• भृशम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय; adverb

• आपूर्य: having filled up
• आपूर्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-पूॄ/पूर् (धातु) → आपूर्य (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष)
• Form: अव्यय-भावे ल्यप् (absolutive); ‘having filled completely’

• हन्यते: is struck/killed/tormented
• हन्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present passive 3rd sg

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana to the sages at Naimisharanya, describing punitive consequences in the Uma-samhita context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It underscores the Shaiva Siddhanta view that pasha (bondage) manifests as painful consequence when one violates dharma; suffering is a karmic mirror that urges the bound soul (pashu) to seek refuge in Pati—Lord Shiva—for purification and liberation.

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

By contrasting torment with the peace of Shiva-bhakti, the text implicitly drives the seeker toward Saguna Shiva worship—Linga-upasana, repentance, and surrender—so that karmic impurities are reduced and the mind becomes fit for Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is prāyaścitta with Shiva-centered sadhana: japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), wearing Rudraksha, and applying Tripundra (bhasma) with a resolve to abandon adharma and cultivate purity.