Shloka 7

नरकयातनावर्णनम् / Description of Hell-Torments for Specific Transgressions

Devanagari script

पूर्वाकाराश्च पुरुषाः प्रज्वलन्ति समंततः । दुश्चारिणीं स्त्रियं गाढमालिंगंति रुदंति च

Transliteration

pūrvākārāśca puruṣāḥ prajvalanti samaṃtataḥ | duścāriṇīṃ striyaṃ gāḍhamāliṃgaṃti rudaṃti ca

Translation

かつての姿を帯びた男たちは四方に燃え立ち、道を踏み外したその女を固く抱きしめて、共に泣き悲しむ。

Word by Word

• pūrvākārāḥ: having former/previous forms
• pūrvākārāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrvākāra (प्रातिपदिक; pūrva + ākāra)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avya ya (Conjunction/समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• puruṣāḥ: men/persons
• puruṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन)

• prajvalanti: blaze/burn forth
• prajvalanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√jval (धातु; ज्वल्)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present/लट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• samantataḥ: on all sides
• samantataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samantatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, Deśa-adhikaraṇa adverb (Adverb of place/देश-अधिकरण)

• duścāriṇīm: ill-conducted/unchaste
• duścāriṇīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duścāriṇī (प्रातिपदिक; dus + cāriṇī)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• striyam: woman
• striyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• gāḍham: tightly/firmly
• gāḍham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: gāḍha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa avyaya (Adverb/क्रिया-विशेषण; used adverbially)

• āliṅganti: embrace
• āliṅganti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√liṅg (धातु; लिङ्ग्/लिङ्ग् ‘to embrace’)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present/लट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• rudanti: weep/cry
• rudanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √rud (धातु; रुद्)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present/लट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avya ya (Conjunction/समुच्चय-अव्यय)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana account to the sages, within the Umāsaṃhitā discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It portrays how pasha (bondage)—especially desire, jealousy, and attachment—sets the mind “ablaze” and leads to sorrow, indicating the need to turn toward Pati (Shiva) for inner purification and steadiness.

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

By highlighting the pain produced by uncontrolled passions, the verse implicitly points to Saguna Shiva worship (Linga, mantra, and devotion) as a stabilizing refuge that cools agitation and redirects the pashu-mind toward Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with bhakti, along with Tripundra (bhasma) and disciplined conduct, as remedies for the “burning” of passion and the tears of attachment.