Shloka 39

सामान्यतो नरकगतिवर्णनम्

General Description of the Course of Hell / Naraka-gati

Devanagari script

बद्ध्वा परस्परं सर्वे सुभृशं पापरज्जुभिः । बद्धपिंडास्तु दृश्यंते महा ज्वाले तु यातनाः

Transliteration

baddhvā parasparaṃ sarve subhṛśaṃ pāparajjubhiḥ | baddhapiṃḍāstu dṛśyaṃte mahā jvāle tu yātanāḥ

Translation

Bound tightly to one another with the ropes of sin, all of them are seen as tied-up lumps; in the great blaze, the torments are endured.

Word by Word

• बद्ध्वा: having bound
• बद्ध्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial participle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त; gerund)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया

• परस्परम्: each other
• परस्परम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Reciprocal adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-नपुंसक)
• Form: अव्यय, परस्परसम्बन्धवाचक (reciprocal adverb)

• सर्वे: all (of them)
• सर्वे: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सुभृशम्: very much, intensely
• सुभृशम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner/intensity)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सुभृश (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, परिमाण/तीव्रतावाचक (intensifier adverb)

• पापरज्जुभिः: with sinful ropes
• पापरज्जुभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापरज्जु (प्रातिपदिक) = पाप + रज्जु
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• बद्धपिण्डाः: bound lumps/balls (of bodies)
• बद्धपिण्डाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बद्धपिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) = बद्ध (बन्ध्+क्त) + पिण्ड
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तु: indeed
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/विशेषार्थक (particle: but/indeed)

• दृश्यन्ते: are seen
• दृश्यन्ते: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (passive sense: are seen)

• महाज्वाले: in the great flame
• महाज्वाले: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाज्वाला (प्रातिपदिक) = महा + ज्वाला
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विशेषार्थक (particle)

• यातनाः: tortures, punishments
• यातनाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यातना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya within the Uma Samhita’s discourse on bondage and karmic consequence)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

FAQs

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

The verse portrays pāpa (sin) as literal pāśa—binding ropes that constrain the soul (paśu). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, karmic bondage matures into suffering until the being turns toward purification, devotion, and Shiva’s grace for release.

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

By emphasizing bondage and its painful results, the text implicitly points to Saguna Shiva (worshiped as the Linga) as the compassionate Lord who receives repentance and devotion. Linga worship, mantra, and disciplined living are presented across the Purana as means to weaken pāśa and reorient the mind toward Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is purification and restraint: take refuge in japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), maintain Śiva-dharma (non-harming, truthfulness), and perform simple Shiva worship (abhisheka, bhasma/tripundra) as a corrective to karmic bondage.