Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

असंख्याता महावीराः कालाञ्जनसमप्रभाः । सर्वायुधोद्यतकरा यमदूता भयानकाः

Transliteration

asaṃkhyātā mahāvīrāḥ kālāñjanasamaprabhāḥ | sarvāyudhodyatakarā yamadūtā bhayānakāḥ

Translation

数知れぬ大勇士たちが、コーリリウムの黒のように暗く艶やかに輝き、手を高く掲げてあらゆる武器を振るった。彼らはヤマの恐るべき使者であった。

Word by Word

• असंख्याताः: countless
• असंख्याताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असंख्यात (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण from √ख्या with उपसर्ग सं-, negated)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); भूतकृदन्त-विशेषण (past participial adjective)

• महा-वीराः: great heroes
• महा-वीराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• काल-अञ्जन-सम-प्रभाः: having a luster like black collyrium
• काल-अञ्जन-सम-प्रभाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + अञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण

• सर्व-आयुध-उद्यत-कराः: with hands raised holding all weapons
• सर्व-आयुध-उद्यत-कराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्यत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण; उद्यत = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (raised/ready)

• यम-दूताः: messengers of Yama
• यम-दूताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक) + दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• भयानकाः: fearsome
• भयानकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भयानक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Uma-saṃhitā account to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Yamadutas

FAQs

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

It highlights the terrifying power of karmic consequence personified as Yama’s messengers, reminding the soul (paśu) bound by pāśa (karma and fear) that liberation is attained by turning to Pati—Lord Shiva—through right conduct and devotion.

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

The fear of Yamadutas symbolizes worldly bondage; worship of the Shiva-linga (Saguna Shiva as a saving refuge) is presented in the Shiva Purana as a means to purify karma and gain Shiva’s grace, which ultimately leads beyond the jurisdiction of death and fear.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Panchakshara mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with Shiva-bhakti and daily purity disciplines (such as Tripuṇḍra bhasma and Rudrākṣa when prescribed), cultivating fearlessness and detachment from death-centered anxiety.