Shloka 22
एते चान्ये च नरकाः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः । येषु दुष्कृतकर्माणः पच्यते यातनागताः
ete cānye ca narakāḥ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ | yeṣu duṣkṛtakarmāṇaḥ pacyate yātanāgatāḥ
આ અને અન્ય અનેક નરકો—સૈંકડો અને હજારો—અસ્તિત્વમાં છે; જેમાં દુષ્કર્મ કરનારાઓ દંડાવસ્થામાં પડી યાતનામાં દહે છે।
Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana discourse to the sages, consistent with Purana frame narrative)
Tattva Level: pasha
FAQs
It emphasizes that suffering is not arbitrary: karmic bondage (pāśa) ripens into painful results. The verse urges ethical living and a turn toward Śiva (Pati) through purification and devotion to end the cycle of punishment and rebirth.
By highlighting the consequences of duṣkṛta (harmful deeds), it indirectly points to the remedial path taught in Shaiva tradition—approaching Saguna Śiva through Liṅga worship, repentance, and disciplined practice, which purifies karma and loosens pāśa.
A practical takeaway is regular japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a vow of non-harming and self-restraint; this aligns conduct with dharma and supports karmic purification.