Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

अनेक शाखाविततैर्व्याप्तं वंशवनैः क्वचित् । कष्टेन तमसा मार्गे नानालम्बेन कुत्रचित्

Transliteration

aneka śākhāvitatairvyāptaṃ vaṃśavanaiḥ kvacit | kaṣṭena tamasā mārge nānālambena kutracit

Translation

ある所では多くの枝を広げた竹林が道を覆い尽くし、ある所では深い闇が行路を苦しくし、またある所では種々の手掛かりにすがらねば渡れぬほど通行が困難であった。

Word by Word

• अनेक: many
• अनेक: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• शाखा-विततैः: by those spread with branches
• शाखा-विततैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाखा (प्रातिपदिक) + वितत (√तन् धातु, क्त/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (शाखाभिः विततैः = branches-spread)

• व्याप्तम्: pervaded, filled
• व्याप्तम्: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याप्त (√आप् धातु, क्त/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• वंश-वनैः: by bamboo-groves
• वंश-वनैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वंश (प्रातिपदिक) + वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (वंशानां वनैः = bamboo-groves)

• क्वचित्: somewhere
• क्वचित्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः—अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• कष्टेन: with difficulty
• कष्टेन: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• तमसा: by darkness
• तमसा: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• मार्गे: on the path
• मार्गे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• नाना-आलम्बेन: by various supports
• नाना-आलम्बेन: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाना (अव्यय) + आलम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; समासः—अव्ययीभाव (नाना + आलम्ब = various supports)

• कुत्रचित्: somewhere
• कुत्रचित्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुत्रचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः—अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Darkness and entangling bamboo-groves symbolize ajñāna and saṃsāric entrapment; the implied ‘supports/handholds’ point to śāstra, guru, and Śiva-bhakti as aids toward release.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

FAQs

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

The difficult, dark, obstructed path mirrors saṃsāra: the pashu (bound soul) moves through pasha (bondage) such as ignorance and fear, and progresses only by steady supports—disciplined effort and, above all, Shiva’s grace (Pati).

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

When the way is obscured by “darkness,” Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—acts as a tangible support (ālambana) that stabilizes the mind, purifies karma, and gradually leads the devotee toward realizing Shiva beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Take “ālambana” as a practical cue: hold to japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), wear rudrākṣa as a reminder of steadiness, and apply tripuṇḍra-bhasma for daily recollection of Shiva while moving through life’s obstacles.