Shloka 42

सामान्यतो नरकगतिवर्णनम्

General Description of the Course of Hell / Naraka-gati

Devanagari script

शरीराभ्यंतरगतैः प्रभूतैः कृमिभिर्नराः । भक्ष्यंते तीक्ष्णवदनैरात्मदेहक्षयाद्भृशम्

Transliteration

śarīrābhyaṃtaragataiḥ prabhūtaiḥ kṛmibhirnarāḥ | bhakṣyaṃte tīkṣṇavadanairātmadehakṣayādbhṛśam

Translation

By countless worms that enter and dwell within the body, human beings are fiercely devoured with sharp mouths, bringing severe wasting and destruction of one’s own embodied condition. This is the misery of the bound soul (paśu) caught in the noose of impurity (pāśa), until it turns toward Lord Śiva, the liberating Lord (Pati).

Word by Word

• शरीराभ्यन्तरगतैः: by worms that have entered inside the body
• शरीराभ्यन्तरगतैः: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक) + अभ्यन्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (कृदन्त, क्त; √गम्)
• Form: बहुव्रीह्यर्थे न; तत्पुरुष-समासः (शरीरस्य अभ्यन्तरं गताः); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (कृमिभिः)

• प्रभूतैः: numerous
• प्रभूतैः: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रभूत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-प्रायः)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (कृमिभिः)

• कृमिभिः: by worms
• कृमिभिः: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करणम्

• नराः: men/people
• नराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• भक्ष्यन्ते: are devoured
• भक्ष्यन्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम् (passive-like: ‘are eaten/devoured’)

• तीक्ष्णवदनैः: by (worms) with sharp mouths
• तीक्ष्णवदनैः: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः (तीक्ष्णं वदनं येषाम्/तीक्ष्णवदनाः); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (कृमिभिः)

• आत्मदेहक्षयात्: from the wasting of their own body
• आत्मदेहक्षयात्: Apādāna (अपादानम्/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + देह (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (आत्मनः देहस्य क्षयः); पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादानम् (cause/source: ‘from/owing to’)

• भृशम्: excessively
• भृशम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम् (intensifier: ‘excessively’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching of Umāsaṃhitā to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the harsh impermanence and vulnerability of the body, urging vairāgya (dispassion). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, it points to the plight of the paśu bound by pāśa, and the need to seek Pati—Lord Śiva—for liberation beyond bodily suffering.

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

By showing the body’s inevitable decay, the verse redirects attention to the stable refuge: Saguna Śiva worship through the Liṅga, which trains the mind to rely on Śiva rather than transient embodiment, preparing the soul for Śiva’s grace (anugraha).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with contemplation on bodily impermanence, alongside daily Liṅga-pūjā and applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder that the body returns to ash and the soul should seek Śiva.