Shloka 24

सामान्यतो नरकगतिवर्णनम्

General Description of the Course of Hell / Naraka-gati

Devanagari script

असितालवने घोरे छिद्यन्ते खण्डशस्ततः । सूचीभिर्भिन्नसर्वाङ्गास्तप्तशूलाग्ररोपिताः

Transliteration

asitālavane ghore chidyante khaṇḍaśastataḥ | sūcībhirbhinnasarvāṅgāstaptaśūlāgraropitāḥ

Translation

In the dreadful forest called Asitāla, they are cut into pieces. Their entire bodies are pierced with needles, and they are impaled upon the blazing tips of heated tridents.

Word by Word

• असि-ताल-वने: in the forest of sword-palms
• असि-ताल-वने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि (प्रातिपदिक) + ताल (प्रातिपदिक) + वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचनम्; समासः तत्पुरुषः (असि-तालानां वनम्)

• घोरे: terrible
• घोरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying वने)

• छिद्यन्ते: are cut
• छिद्यन्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लकारः लट्, पुरुषः प्रथम (3rd), वचनम् बहु, आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (Passive)

• खण्डशः: into pieces
• खण्डशः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: खण्डशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: ‘in pieces’)

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: तस्मात्/ततः इति अपादान/क्रमवाचक-अव्ययम् (thereupon/from there)

• सूचीभिः: with needles
• सूचीभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचनम्

• भिन्न-सर्व-अङ्गाः: whose all limbs are pierced/broken
• भिन्न-सर्व-अङ्गाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिन्न (कृदन्त; √भिद्) + सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम्; समासः (सर्वाणि अङ्गानि यस्य/येषां तानि भिन्नानि) बहुव्रीह्यर्थे प्रयोगः, रूपतः तत्पुरुष-संयोगः; विशेषणम् (implicit ‘ते’)

• तप्त-शूल-अग्र-रोपिताः: impaled on the tips of heated spears
• तप्त-शूल-अग्र-रोपिताः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तप्त (कृदन्त; √तप्) + शूल (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + रोपित (कृदन्त; √रुप्/√रोप् caus. of √रुह्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; समासः तत्पुरुषः (तप्तस्य शूलस्य अग्रे रोपिताः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Kālabhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

This verse illustrates the harsh fruition of pāpa-karma: when the soul (paśu) remains bound by pāśa (impurities and actions), it experiences intense suffering. The Shaiva Siddhanta takeaway is not fear alone, but urgency for dharma, repentance, and turning toward Pati (Shiva) whose grace leads beyond bondage.

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

By contrasting torment with the path of refuge, the text implicitly directs the devotee toward Saguna Shiva—worship of the Śiva-liṅga with bhakti, purity, and right conduct—as a means to lessen karmic burden and orient the mind toward liberation under Shiva’s lordship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with repentance and self-restraint; supporting practices include applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and wearing Rudrākṣa as reminders of dharma and Shiva-centered discipline.