Shloka 24

नरकनामनिर्णयः

Catalogue of Narakas and Karmic Causes

Devanagari script

वर्णाश्रमविरुद्धं च कर्म कुर्वंति ये नराः । कर्मणा मनसा वाचा निरये तु पतंति ते

Transliteration

varṇāśramaviruddhaṃ ca karma kurvaṃti ye narāḥ | karmaṇā manasā vācā niraye tu pataṃti te

Translation

Ceux qui accomplissent des actes contraires aux devoirs de leur varṇa et de leur āśrama—par l’action, par la pensée et par la parole—tombent assurément en enfer. Du point de vue śaiva, un tel désordre lie plus étroitement le paśu (l’âme) dans le pāśa (servitude), et entrave la voie de la pureté et de la réalisation de Śiva.

Word by Word

• वर्ण-आश्रम-विरुद्धम्: contrary to varṇa and āśrama duties
• वर्ण-आश्रम-विरुद्धम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ण + आश्रम + विरुद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया) एकवचनम्; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: (वर्णाश्रमयोः विरुद्धम्) qualifying ‘कर्म’

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

• कर्म: action/deed
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचनम्

• कुर्वन्ति: do/perform
• कुर्वन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) बहुवचनम्; relative pronoun

• नराः: men
• नराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) बहुवचनम्

• कर्मणा: by deed
• कर्मणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया) एकवचनम्; instrumental

• मनसा: by mind
• मनसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd) एकवचनम्

• वाचा: by speech
• वाचा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd) एकवचनम्

• निरये: in hell
• निरये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निरय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी) एकवचनम्

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• पतन्ति: fall
• पतन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) बहुवचनम्; demonstrative pronoun

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that dharma is not merely external behavior: when one violates rightful duty in action, thought, and speech, the soul becomes further bound by pāśa (karmic bondage), delaying Shiva-realization and leading to painful consequences.

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

Linga-worship is meant to purify and liberate; this verse stresses that devotion must be supported by ethical order (dharma). Without restraint in mind, speech, and conduct, worship becomes weakened and the karmic fruits remain binding.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate tri-karaṇa-śuddhi (purity of body, mind, and speech) alongside daily Shiva practices—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), vibhūti/tripundra, and mindful self-restraint—so devotion matures toward liberation.