Shloka 17

नरकयातनावर्णनम् / Description of Hell-Torments for Specific Transgressions

Devanagari script

क्षाराद्यैश्च क्रमात्सर्वा इहैव यमयातनाः । भवंति मुनिशार्दूल सत्यंसत्यं न संशयः

Transliteration

kṣārādyaiśca kramātsarvā ihaiva yamayātanāḥ | bhavaṃti muniśārdūla satyaṃsatyaṃ na saṃśayaḥ

Translation

Par les substances alcalines et autres semblables, selon l’ordre prescrit, toutes les tortures de Yama sont éprouvées ici même, en cette vie. Ô tigre parmi les sages, c’est vrai—vrai en vérité—sans aucun doute.

Word by Word

• क्षाराद्यैः: by alkali etc.
• क्षाराद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षार-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; समासः—क्षारः आदिः येषां तैः (kṣāra etc.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• क्रमात्: in sequence
• क्रमात्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभावार्थे (ablative used adverbially); ‘क्रमेण’ (in due order)

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• यमयातनाः: Yama’s tortures
• यमयातनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम-यातना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—यमस्य यातनाः (punishments of Yama)

• भवन्ति: occur/come to be
• भवन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मुनिशार्दूल: O tiger among sages
• मुनिशार्दूल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि-शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन; समासः—मुनिषु शार्दूलः (tiger among sages)

• सत्यम्: truly
• सत्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; वाक्ये अव्ययीभाववत् निश्चयार्थे

• सत्यम्: truly (again)
• सत्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति-बल (emphatic repetition)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages of Naimisharanya in the Uma Samhita context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

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

It teaches that the fruits of adharma are not only post-mortem “hells” but manifest as tangible suffering in embodied life; this underscores Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis on pasha (bondage) operating here-and-now, urging purification and Shiva-oriented living.

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

By highlighting immediate karmic torment, it implicitly points to Saguna Shiva (worshiped as the Linga) as the compassionate refuge who grants purification (anugraha) and helps the bound soul turn from pasha toward pati through devotion, right conduct, and worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily Shiva-smarana with the Panchakshara mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), accompanied by sāttvika discipline; when appropriate, traditional Shaiva supports like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa are adopted as reminders of purity and restraint.