Shloka 25

नरकनामनिर्णयः

Catalogue of Narakas and Karmic Causes

Devanagari script

अधश्शिरोभिर्दृश्यंते नारका दिवि दैवतैः । देवानधोमुखान्सर्वानधः पश्यंति नारकाः

Transliteration

adhaśśirobhirdṛśyaṃte nārakā divi daivataiḥ | devānadhomukhānsarvānadhaḥ paśyaṃti nārakāḥ

Translation

天において神々は、地獄の住人を、まるで逆さにして頭を下にしたかのように見る。地獄に縛られた者たちもまた、すべての神々が下へ向いているかのように見え、下方から彼らを仰ぎ見る。

Word by Word

अधः-शिरोभिःwith heads downward

दृश्यन्तेare seen

नारकाःthe hell-dwellers

दिविin heaven

दैवतैःby the gods

देवान्the gods

अधो-मुखान्down-faced

सर्वान्all

अधःdownwards

पश्यन्तिsee

नारकाःthe hell-dwellers

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana discourse to the sages, Uma Samhita philosophical context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

Devas

Naraka

FAQs

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

It illustrates the karmic hierarchy of experience: beings in svarga and naraka perceive each other through the lens of their karmic station, reminding the seeker that pleasure and pain are conditioned states under pasha (bondage), not final liberation.

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

By contrasting heaven and hell as relative outcomes, the verse implicitly directs devotion beyond temporary karmic results toward Saguna Shiva (worshipped as the Linga), whose grace leads the bound soul (pashu) beyond both svarga and naraka toward Shiva’s state.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate the impermanence of karmic worlds while repeating the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with humility; cultivate Tripundra-bhasma and Rudraksha as reminders of vairagya (dispassion) and the aim of moksha rather than heavenly reward.