Shloka 14

नरकयातनावर्णनम् / Description of Hell-Torments for Specific Transgressions

Devanagari script

कुर्वन्ति पित्रोर्भृकुटिं करनेत्राणि ये नरा । वक्त्राणि तेषां सांतानि कीर्य्यंते शंकुभिर्दृढम्

Transliteration

kurvanti pitrorbhṛkuṭiṃ karanetrāṇi ye narā | vaktrāṇi teṣāṃ sāṃtāni kīryyaṃte śaṃkubhirdṛḍham

Translation

父母を苦しませて眉をひそめさせ、耳や目に痛みを与える者は、来世においてその口が鋭い杭で固く貫かれる。

Word by Word

• kurvanti: do; make
• kurvanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• pitroḥ: of the two parents
• pitroḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Dual (द्विवचन)

• bhṛkuṭim: frown; knitted brow
• bhṛkuṭim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛkuṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• kara-netrāṇi: hands and eyes
• kara-netrāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara (प्रातिपदिक) + netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (hands and eyes)

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); relative pronoun (यत्-प्रत्यय)

• narāḥ: men; people
• narāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vaktrāṇi: faces; mouths
• vaktrāṇi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sāntāni: pierced; perforated
• sāntāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• kīryante: are pierced/strewn; are torn open
• kīryante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṝ (कॄ धातु; ‘to scatter/throw’)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Passive voice (कर्मणि प्रयोग), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śaṃkubhiḥ: with spikes; with pegs
• śaṃkubhiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃku (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dṛḍham: firmly; strongly
• dṛḍham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dṛḍha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indeclinable adverbial accusative (अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches Shaiva dharma that harming or tormenting one’s parents is a grave pāpa that binds the soul (paśu) in painful karmic consequences; reverence and service to parents is a foundational discipline that supports purity, devotion, and liberation-oriented conduct.

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

Linga worship in the Shiva Purana is not merely ritual; it must be supported by right conduct (ācāra). This verse underscores that devotion to Saguna Shiva bears fruit when paired with dharmic living—especially gratitude and non-harm toward those who gave one life.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is ethical sādhanā: daily service and respectful speech toward parents, coupled with Shiva-bhakti such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and repentance (prāyaścitta) to cleanse harsh actions and speech.