Shloka 43

सामान्यतो नरकगतिवर्णनम्

General Description of the Course of Hell / Naraka-gati

Devanagari script

कृमीणां निचये क्षिप्ताः पूयमांसास्थिराशिषु । तिष्ठंत्युद्विग्नहृदयाः पर्वताभ्यां निपीडिताः

Transliteration

kṛmīṇāṃ nicaye kṣiptāḥ pūyamāṃsāsthirāśiṣu | tiṣṭhaṃtyudvignahṛdayāḥ parvatābhyāṃ nipīḍitāḥ

Translation

Arrojados a enjambres de gusanos, entre montones de pus, carne y huesos, permanecen allí con corazones aterrorizados, aplastados entre dos montañas.

Word by Word

• कृमीणाम्: of worms
• कृमीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• निचये: in a heap/mass
• निचये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निचय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरणम्

• क्षिप्ताः: thrown/cast
• क्षिप्ताः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु) → क्षिप्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘(ते) नराः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• पूयमांसास्थिराशिषु: in heaps of pus, flesh, and bones
• पूयमांसास्थिराशिषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूय (प्रातिपदिक) + मांस (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्थि (प्रातिपदिक) + राशि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (पूय-मांस-अस्थि-राशयः); पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; अधिकरणम्

• तिष्ठन्ति: stand/remain
• तिष्ठन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) (तिष्ठति)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• उद्विग्नहृदयाः: with agitated hearts
• उद्विग्नहृदयाः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् + विज्/विज् (धातु) → उद्विग्न (कृदन्त, क्त) + हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (उद्विग्नं हृदयं येषाम्/उद्विग्नहृदयाः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (ते)

• पर्वताभ्याम्: by two mountains
• पर्वताभ्याम्: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), द्विवचन; करणम्

• निपीडिताः: crushed/pressed
• निपीडिताः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + पीड् (धातु) → निपीडित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘ते’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates the binding power of pāśa (karmic bondage): when the soul (paśu) turns away from dharma and Shiva-centric purification, it experiences intense fear and constriction, symbolized by worms, filth, and crushing pressure—an image meant to awaken vairāgya and the urge for liberation.

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

By contrasting the misery born of karmic impurity with the peace gained through Shiva-upāsanā, it indirectly points to refuge in Saguna Shiva—worship of the Linga with devotion and purity—as a means to soften and exhaust pāśa and move toward Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is repentance and purification: adopt Shiva-bhakti with regular japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), maintain ethical discipline, and perform simple Linga-pūjā as a corrective path away from actions that lead to such suffering.