Shloka 43

नरकयातनावर्णनम् / Description of Hell-Torments for Specific Transgressions

Devanagari script

हंतकारस्तथैवान्यो धेन्वा स्तनचतुष्टयम् । स्वाहाकारं स्तनं देवास्स्वधां च पितरस्तथा

Transliteration

haṃtakārastathaivānyo dhenvā stanacatuṣṭayam | svāhākāraṃ stanaṃ devāssvadhāṃ ca pitarastathā

Translation

また別の呼声として「haṁt-kāra」があり、牝牛には四つの乳房があると言われる。神々は一つを「svāhā」として受け、同様に祖霊ピトリは別の一つを「svadhā」として受ける。

Word by Word

• हंत-कारः: the ‘hanta’ utterance
• हंत-कारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंत (अव्यय/उद्गार) + कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• अन्यः: another
• अन्यः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• धेन्वा: by the cow
• धेन्वा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• स्तन-चतुष्टयम्: the set of four teats
• स्तन-चतुष्टयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तन (प्रातिपदिक) + चतुष्टय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (चतुष्टयं स्तनानाम्)

• स्वाहा-कारम्: the ‘svāhā’ utterance
• स्वाहा-कारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाहा (अव्यय/मन्त्रपद) + कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• स्तनम्: teat/breast
• स्तनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• स्वधाम्: ‘svadhā’ (invocation)
• स्वधाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

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

• पितरः: the ancestors (pitṛs)
• पितरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: The imagery of nourishment aligns with Kāśī’s Annapūrṇā tradition: Śiva as Viśvanātha receives alms and the Goddess grants food, establishing the city as a place where sustenance and liberation coexist.

Significance: Remembrance of Śiva as Viśvanātha and the feeding aspect of the divine supports both worldly stability (sthiti) and readiness for grace; pilgrims seek both anna-dāna merit and Śiva-bhakti.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: svāhā / svadhā (and haṃt-kāra mentioned)

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Pitaras

FAQs

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

It frames sacred utterances (like svāhā and svadhā) as channels through which cosmic recipients are nourished, implying that sound, offering, and order (dharma) are interconnected—ultimately grounded in Shiva’s supreme governance as Pati.

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

In Shiva-centered practice, all Vedic offerings and their mantric calls are understood to be empowered by Shiva; thus, honoring the Linga/Saguna Shiva aligns and sanctifies yajña—benefiting both Devas (svāhā) and Pitṛs (svadhā).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to correct mantra-usage in offerings—reciting “svāhā” for Devas and “svadhā” for Pitṛs—while maintaining Shaiva remembrance (e.g., mentally anchoring the rite in Shiva as the inner witness of all sacrifice).