Shloka 29

नरकलोकवर्णनम् (Narakaloka-varṇanam) — Description of the Hell-Realms

Devanagari script

कुम्भीपाकसुपाकौ च क्रकचश्चातिदारुणः । अंगारराशिभवनं मेरुरसृक्प्रहितस्ततः

Transliteration

kumbhīpākasupākau ca krakacaścātidāruṇaḥ | aṃgārarāśibhavanaṃ merurasṛkprahitastataḥ

Translation

Kemudian ia dilemparkan ke neraka bernama Kumbhīpāka dan Supāka, serta ke Krakaca yang amat mengerikan; setelah itu ia dijatuhkan ke tempat berupa tumpukan bara menyala dan ke gunung tempat aliran darah dicurahkan.

Word by Word

• कुम्भीपाकसुपाकौ: Kumbhīpāka and Supāka (two hells/names)
• कुम्भीपाकसुपाकौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भीपाकसुपाक (प्रातिपदिक) = कुम्भीपाक + सुपाक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (कुम्भीपाकः च सुपाकः च)

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

• क्रकचः: Krakaca (saw-like torment/hell-name)
• क्रकचः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रकच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• अतिदारुणः: extremely dreadful
• अतिदारुणः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिदारुण (प्रातिपदिक) = अति + दारुण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; कर्मधारयः (अति-उपसर्गपूर्वक)

• अंगारराशिभवनम्: Aṅgārarāśibhavana (abode/heap-house of embers)
• अंगारराशिभवनम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंगारराशिभवन (प्रातिपदिक) = अंगार + राशि + भवन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अंगारराशेः भवनम्)

• मेरुः: Meru (mountain)
• मेरुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• असृक्प्रहितः: sent forth with blood / blood-driven
• असृक्प्रहितः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असृक्प्रहित (प्रातिपदिक) = असृक् + प्रहित
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (असृजः प्रहितः = रक्तेन प्रहितः/रक्तप्रेषितः)

• ततः: then; from there
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः: अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb: 'thereupon/from there')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; it describes naraka-stations (Kumbhīpāka, Supāka, Krakaca) and further tortures (embers, blood-mountain) as karmic consequences.

Significance: Functions as dharma-śikṣā: contemplation of naraka is meant to turn the paśu away from adharma and toward Śiva’s anugraha through right conduct and devotion.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It warns that adharma binds the paśu (individual soul) through pāśa (karmic fetters), leading to painful naraka-experiences; only right conduct and turning to Pati (Śiva) loosen bondage and orient one toward liberation.

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

By contrasting the fruits of sin with the purifying refuge of Śiva, it implicitly urges devotion to Saguna Śiva (as worshipped in the Liṅga) and disciplined living, so karma is purified and the soul becomes fit for Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt daily Śiva-smaraṇa with the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), along with śauca and dharma; if following Śaiva practice, support it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of restraint and devotion.