Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

न केचित्प्राणिनस्संति ये न यांति यमक्षयम् । अवश्यं हि कृतं कर्म भोक्तव्यं तद्विचार्य्यताम्

Transliteration

na kecitprāṇinassaṃti ye na yāṃti yamakṣayam | avaśyaṃ hi kṛtaṃ karma bhoktavyaṃ tadvicāryyatām

Translation

ヤマ（Yama）の住処へ赴かぬ生きものは一つとしてない。まことに、なされた業は必ずその果として味わわれねばならぬ；これを正しく省みよ。

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• kecit: some (persons)
• kecit: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim + cit (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक + निपात)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• prāṇinaḥ: living beings
• prāṇinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• santi: are
• santi: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता/subject of relative clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun (सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• yānti: go
• yānti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (या धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• yama-kṣayam: the abode/realm of Yama
• yama-kṣayam: Karma (कर्म/object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• avaśyam: certainly, inevitably
• avaśyam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: avaśya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphatic/causal

• kṛtam: done, performed
• kṛtam: Visheshana (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत्), Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with कर्म

• karma: deed, action
• karma: Karta (कर्ता/subject of passive necessity)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhoktavyam: must be experienced/enjoyed
• bhoktavyam: Kriya (क्रिया/obligatory predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhuj (भुज् धातु)
• Form: Gerundive/necessitative (तव्यत्), Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective with कर्म

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• vicāryatām: let it be considered/reflected upon
• vicāryatām: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + car (चर् धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada passive-style usage; ‘let it be considered’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Uma-samhita teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: A stark karmic axiom that drives śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge) in Śiva; reflection (vicāra) becomes the doorway to grace-oriented practice.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Universal subjection of embodied beings to karmic fruition and Yama’s domain (saṃsāra-niyama)

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

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

It stresses the inevitability of karmic fruition and mortality, urging discernment (vicāra) so one turns toward Shiva-centered sādhanā that loosens bondage (pāśa) and leads toward liberation.

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

By highlighting the certainty of karmic consequences, it motivates refuge in Saguna Shiva—worship of the Shiva-Linga, mantra, and devotion—as a purifying path that transforms karma and directs the soul toward Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular self-inquiry into one’s actions, coupled with Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined worship (pujā/abhisheka) as daily practice to purify karmic tendencies.