Shloka 30

नरकलोकवर्णनम् (Narakaloka-varṇanam) — Description of the Hell-Realms

Devanagari script

तीक्ष्णतुण्डश्च शकुनिर्महासंवर्तकः क्रतुः । तप्तजंतुः पंकलेपः प्रतिमांसस्त्रपूद्भवः

Transliteration

tīkṣṇatuṇḍaśca śakunirmahāsaṃvartakaḥ kratuḥ | taptajaṃtuḥ paṃkalepaḥ pratimāṃsastrapūdbhavaḥ

Translation

ತೀಕ್ಷ್ಣತುಂಡ, ಶಕುನಿ, ಮಹಾಸಂವರ್ತಕ, ಕ್ರತು; ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ತಪ್ತಜಂತು, ಪಂಕಲೇಪ, ಪ್ರತಿಮಾಂಸ, ತ್ರಪೂದ್ಭವ—ಇವರೇ ಆ ಘೋರ ಸತ್ತ್ವಗಳು ಎಂದು ವರ್ಣಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟಿವೆ.

Word by Word

• तीक्ष्णतुण्डः: Tīkṣṇatuṇḍa (sharp-beaked one)
• तीक्ष्णतुण्डः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीक्ष्णतुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) = तीक्ष्ण + तुण्ड
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (तीक्ष्णं तुण्डं यस्य)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शकुनिः: Śakuni (bird; name)
• शकुनिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• महासंवर्तकः: Mahāsaṃvartaka (great destroyer/annihilator)
• महासंवर्तकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महासंवर्तक (प्रातिपदिक) = महा + संवर्तक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् संवर्तकः)

• क्रतुः: Kratu (rite/sacrifice; name)
• क्रतुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तप्तजंतुः: Taptajantu (scorched creature)
• तप्तजंतुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तप्तजंतु (प्रातिपदिक) = तप्त + जंतु
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (तप्तः जंतुः)

• पंकलेपः: Paṅkalepa (coating of mud/filth)
• पंकलेपः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पंकलेप (प्रातिपदिक) = पंक + लेप
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पंकस्य लेपः)

• प्रतिमांसः: Pratimāṃsa (flesh at every step / abundant flesh)
• प्रतिमांसः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिमांस (प्रातिपदिक) = प्रति + मांस
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (प्रति- इत्यव्ययपूर्वकः)

• त्रपूद्भवः: Trapūdbhava (born of tin/metal)
• त्रपूद्भवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रपूद्भव (प्रातिपदिक) = त्रपू + उद्भव
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; पञ्चमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसदृशः (त्रपूतः उद्भवः = 'born from tin/lead' इत्यर्थे)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Kālāntaka

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; the epithet ‘Mahāsaṃvartaka’ evokes pralaya/dissolution imagery, aligning conceptually with Śiva as the terminator of time (Kālāntaka).

Significance: Contemplation of saṃhāra and naraka-guardians is used to cultivate vairāgya and turn toward Śiva’s anugraha (release from pāśa).

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Saṃvartaka motif (world-dissolution) invoked as an analogy for overwhelming punitive force

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It catalogs terrifying forces/names associated with dissolution, underscoring that all fearsome transformations of nature are ultimately under the sovereignty of Pati (Lord Shiva), whom the seeker approaches for fearlessness and liberation.

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

By portraying dissolution and dread as controlled manifestations, it points devotees toward Saguna Shiva (Linga-worship) as the compassionate Lord who governs even destructive powers and grants refuge beyond them.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate fearlessness through Shiva-bhakti—daily remembrance of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and worship with bhasma/rudrākṣa as aids to steady the mind amid thoughts of impermanence.