Shloka 6

नरकलोकमार्गयमदूतस्वरूपवर्णनम् / Description of the Path to Naraka and the Nature of Yama’s Messengers

Devanagari script

ये पुनः पापकर्म्माणः पापा दानविवर्जिताः । ते घोरेण पथा यांति दक्षिणेन यमालयम्

Transliteration

ye punaḥ pāpakarmmāṇaḥ pāpā dānavivarjitāḥ | te ghoreṇa pathā yāṃti dakṣiṇena yamālayam

Translation

Mereka yang melakukan perbuatan dosa—para pendosa yang tanpa dana (derma)—menempuh jalan yang mengerikan dan menuju ke selatan, ke kediaman Yama.

Word by Word

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; relative pronoun ‘who’

• पुनः: again/further
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति/पुनरागमनार्थक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘again/further’

• पापकर्म्माणः: sinful-doers
• पापकर्म्माणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: पापं कर्म येषां ते (sinful in deeds)

• पापाः: sinful (people)
• पापाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; adjective used substantively

• दान-विवर्जिताः: deprived of charity
• दान-विवर्जिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक) + वि + वर्ज् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) ‘विवर्जित’; तत्पुरुष: दानात् विवर्जिताः (devoid of giving/charity)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; demonstrative pronoun ‘they/those’

• घोरेण: by a dreadful
• घोरेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; instrumental singular ‘by/with terrible’ (qualifying path)

• पथा: by the path
• पथा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथिन्/पथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; instrumental singular ‘by the path/way’

• यान्ति: go
• यान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; parasmaipada

• दक्षिणेन: by the southern (route)
• दक्षिणेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; instrumental singular ‘by the southern/right (way)’

• यमालयम्: the abode of Yama
• यमालयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक) + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: यमस्य आलयम्

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching Umā/Parvati on the moral-spiritual law of karma and post-death destinations)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Parvati

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

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

It states a karmic principle: persistent sinful action combined with the absence of dāna (charitable giving) strengthens bondage (pāśa) and leads the soul toward fearful post-death experiences symbolized by the southern path to Yama.

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

In Shaiva teaching, devotion to Saguna Shiva (including Linga worship) is meant to purify conduct; this verse highlights the opposite condition—sin and lack of charity—showing why ethical living and devotional disciplines are integral to turning the soul away from Yama’s path and toward Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice dāna as a regular vrata, and pair it with daily Shiva-upāsanā—japa of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and simple Linga-pūjā—to weaken sinful tendencies and cultivate dharma.