Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

तत्र ये शुभकर्माणस्सौम्यचित्ता दयान्विताः । ते नरा यांति सौम्येन पूर्वं यमनिकेतनम्

Transliteration

tatra ye śubhakarmāṇassaumyacittā dayānvitāḥ | te narā yāṃti saumyena pūrvaṃ yamaniketanam

Translation

ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಶುಭಕರ್ಮಗಳನ್ನು ಮಾಡುವವರು—ಸೌಮ್ಯಚಿತ್ತರು, ದಯಾನ್ವಿತರು—ಆ ನರರು ಶಾಂತಿಯಾಗಿ ಮೊದಲು ಯಮನ ನಿಕೇತನಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಗುತ್ತಾರೆ।

Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of place (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

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

• śubha-karmāṇaḥ: of good deeds
• śubha-karmāṇaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound ‘good-deeds’; Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); used adjectivally for नराः

• saumya-cittāḥ: gentle-minded
• saumya-cittāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saumya (प्रातिपदिक) + citta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya compound; Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dayā-anvitāḥ: endowed with compassion
• dayā-anvitāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dayā (प्रातिपदिक) + anvita (प्रातिपदिक/क्त)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘endowed with compassion’; Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Demonstrative pronoun, Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• narāḥ: men, persons
• narāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

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

• saumyena: with gentleness
• saumyena: Karana (करण/instrument, manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (or Masculine) Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); adverbial instrument ‘by/with gentleness’

• pūrvam: first, beforehand
• pūrvam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/temporal modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• yama-niketanam: Yama’s abode
• yama-niketanam: Karma (कर्म/destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक) + niketana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

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

It teaches that a life grounded in auspicious action and compassion leads to a peaceful transition after death, aligning the soul with dharma before it proceeds onward in its journey.

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

In Shaiva understanding, ethical purity and compassion support true Shiva-bhakti; such conduct makes devotion to Saguna Shiva (including Linga worship) mature and fit for grace, even when one must pass through Yama’s domain according to karmic law.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse emphasizes cultivating compassion and auspicious conduct; a practical Shaiva takeaway is daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a vow of non-harm and charity, supporting a serene mind at life’s end.