Shloka 10

नरकलोकमार्गयमदूतस्वरूपवर्णनम् / Description of the Path to Naraka and the Nature of Yama’s Messengers

Devanagari script

क्वचित्पंकेन महता उरुतोकैश्च पातकैः । लोहसूचीनिभैर्दर्भैस्सम्पन्नेन पथा क्वचित्

Transliteration

kvacitpaṃkena mahatā urutokaiśca pātakaiḥ | lohasūcīnibhairdarbhaissampannena pathā kvacit

Translation

ある時は道が深い泥に塞がれ、ある時は大いなる激流に取り囲まれ、またある時は重い危難と鉄の針のごとく鋭いダルバ草が散り敷かれている――これこそ、輪廻の世路において幾度も遭う道である。

Word by Word

• kvacit: somewhere; at times
• kvacit: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kvacit (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa/avasthā-avyaya (देश/अवस्था-अव्यय, adverb)

• paṃkena: with mud
• paṃkena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṅka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• mahatā: great; huge
• mahatā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); viśeṣaṇa of paṃkena

• uru-tokaiḥ: with big clods/lumps
• uru-tokaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uru (प्रातिपदिक) + toka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); karmadhāraya: uru-toka = 'large clod/lump'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (समुच्चय-निपात, conjunction)

• pātakaiḥ: with pitfalls/obstacles
• pātakaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• lohasūcī-nibhaiḥ: resembling iron needles
• lohasūcī-nibhaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: loha (प्रातिपदिक) + sūcī (प्रातिपदिक) + nibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: loha-sūcī = 'iron-needle'; then nibha = 'like' → 'like iron needles' (viśeṣaṇa of darbhaḥ)

• darbhaiḥ: with darbha-grass
• darbhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• sampannena: filled; covered; furnished
• sampannena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sampanna (प्रातिपदिक) [PPP of √pad with sam-]
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीyaa), Ekavacana (एकवचन); viśeṣaṇa of pathā

• pathā: by a path/road
• pathā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pathin/patha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• kvacit: somewhere; at times
• kvacit: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kvacit (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa/avasthā-avyaya (देश/अवस्था-अव्यय, adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse portrays saṃsāra as a perilous road—mire, torrents, and needle-like pains—implying that the bound soul (paśu) needs the grace of Pati (Śiva) and disciplined practice to cross beyond bondage (pāśa).

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

By depicting worldly life as hazardous, it implicitly directs the seeker toward Saguna Śiva—worship of the Liṅga as a steady refuge—through which the mind gains stability, purification, and readiness for Śiva’s liberating knowledge and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with daily Śiva-pūjā (Liṅga-abhisheka as able), supported by inner vigilance—so the mind does not sink into the “mire” of tamas or get swept by “torrents” of passion.