Shloka 27

सामान्यतो नरकगतिवर्णनम्

General Description of the Course of Hell / Naraka-gati

Devanagari script

निरुच्छ्वासे निरुछ्वासास्तिष्ठंति नरके चिरम् । उत्ताड्यंते तथोछ्वासे वालुकासदने नराः

Transliteration

nirucchvāse niruchvāsāstiṣṭhaṃti narake ciram | uttāḍyaṃte tathochvāse vālukāsadane narāḥ

Translation

In the hell called Nirucchvāsa, they remain for a long time, deprived of breath. Likewise, in the hell called Ucchvāsa, those beings are struck and tormented in a dwelling of burning sand.

Word by Word

• निरुच्छ्वासे: in (the state of) breathlessness
• निरुच्छ्वासे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निरुच्छ्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• निरुच्छ्वासाः: breathless
• निरुच्छ्वासाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरुच्छ्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of implied beings)

• तिष्ठन्ति: stand/remain
• तिष्ठन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• नरके: in hell
• नरके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• चिरम्: for a long time
• चिरम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिरम् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• उत्ताड्यन्ते: are beaten/struck
• उत्ताड्यन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्+ताड् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus/in that manner)

• उच्छ्वासे: in (the state of) breathing/out-breath
• उच्छ्वासे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उच्छ्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वालुका-सदने: in the sand-dwelling (sand-house)
• वालुका-सदने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वालुका (प्रातिपदिक) + सदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वालुकायाः सदनम्)

• नराः: men/people
• नराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes the Shaiva Siddhanta principle that pāpa (sinful action) binds the soul (paśu) through karma (pāśa), producing painful results; it urges ethical living and turning to Shiva-bhakti for purification and release from bondage.

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

The verse contrasts the suffering born of karmic bondage with the refuge offered by Saguna Shiva worship—Linga-pūjā, remembrance, and surrender—which, in the Purāṇic framework, purify the mind and redirect the soul toward Shiva’s grace and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is regular Shiva upāsanā—japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Linga-abhisheka with devotion, and adopting dharmic conduct—so that pāpa is reduced and the fear of naraka is transcended.