Shloka 26

नरकनामनिर्णयः

Catalogue of Narakas and Karmic Causes

Devanagari script

स्थावराः कृमिपाकाश्च पक्षिणः पशवो मृगाः । धार्मिकास्त्रिदशास्तद्वन्मोक्षिणश्च यथाक्रमम्

Transliteration

sthāvarāḥ kṛmipākāśca pakṣiṇaḥ paśavo mṛgāḥ | dhārmikāstridaśāstadvanmokṣiṇaśca yathākramam

Translation

Dans l’ordre voulu viennent les êtres immobiles (sthāvara), puis les vers et les insectes, puis les oiseaux, puis les animaux domestiques et les bêtes sauvages; ensuite les humains vertueux, puis les dieux—et de même, dans cette même succession, ceux qui atteignent la libération (mokṣa).

Word by Word

स्थावराःimmobile beings (plants etc.)

कृमि-पाकाः‘kṛmipāka’ beings (worm-cooked/infested)

चand

पक्षिणःbirds

पशवःanimals/cattle

मृगाःwild beasts/deer

धार्मिकाःthe righteous

त्रिदशाःthe thirty (gods)

तद्वत्likewise

मोक्षिणःthose who attain liberation

चand

यथा-क्रमम्in due order

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Uma-saṃhitā teachings to the sages in the Shiva Purana’s discourse style)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

FAQs

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

It presents a graded ascent of embodied life, implying that consciousness matures through many births; by dharma and Shiva’s grace, the bound soul (paśu) can rise beyond lower embodiments toward liberation.

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

The verse frames liberation as a culmination of spiritual refinement; in the Shiva Purana, Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga devotion—purifies karma and steadies the mind, accelerating the soul’s rise toward moksha.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is dharmic living supported by Shiva-upāsanā: regular japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Linga-pūjā with bhasma and bilva, and disciplined conduct that reduces bondage (pāśa).