Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

ततो मेघो वृषः शाल्मस्सिंहव्याघ्रगजाननाः । श्वसूकराजमहिषघूककोकवृकाननाः

Transliteration

tato megho vṛṣaḥ śālmassiṃhavyāghragajānanāḥ | śvasūkarājamahiṣaghūkakokavṛkānanāḥ

Translation

ನಂತರ ಮೇಘ, ವೃಷಭ ಮತ್ತು ಶಾಲ್ಮಲೀ ವೃಕ್ಷದಂತ ಮುಖಗಳಿರುವವರು; ಸಿಂಹ, ವ್ಯಾಘ್ರ ಮತ್ತು ಗಜದಂತ ಮುಖಗಳಿರುವವರು; ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಶ್ವಾನ, ಸೂಕರ, ರಾಜಮಹಿಷ, ಘೂಕ, ಕೋಕ ಮತ್ತು ವೃಕದಂತ ಮುಖಗಳಿರುವ ರೂಪಗಳು ಪ್ರಕಟವಾದವು.

Word by Word

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त—“then/thereupon/from that”

• मेघः: cloud
• मेघः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वृषः: bull
• वृषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शाल्मः: Śālma (a being/name)
• शाल्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाल्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (name/epithet)

• सिंह-व्याघ्र-गज-आननाः: having lion-, tiger-, and elephant-faces
• सिंह-व्याघ्र-गज-आननाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक) + व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक) + गज (प्रातिपदिक) + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—“सिंहव्याघ्रगजाननं येषां ते” (those whose faces are of lion, tiger, and elephant)

• श्व-सूकर-आज-महिष-घूक-कोक-वृक-आननाः: having dog-, boar-, goat-, buffalo-, owl-, cuckoo-, and wolf-faces
• श्व-सूकर-आज-महिष-घूक-कोक-वृक-आननाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वन् (प्रातिपदिक) + सूकर (प्रातिपदिक) + आज (प्रातिपदिक) + महिष (प्रातिपदिक) + घूक (प्रातिपदिक) + कोक (प्रातिपदिक) + वृक (प्रातिपदिक) + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—“श्वसूकराजमहिषघूककोकवृकाननं येषां ते” (those whose faces are of dog, boar, goat, buffalo, owl, cuckoo, and wolf)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva’s all-pervading sovereignty: the Lord can assume innumerable forms—animal, elemental, and natural—showing that all names and shapes can become vehicles for recognizing Pati (Shiva) beyond limited perception.

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

The Linga is the stable, universal symbol of Shiva beyond form, while this verse illustrates Saguna manifestations—countless visible forms that arise from the same supreme reality and lead devotees back to the one Linga-principle.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva’s presence in all beings while repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya); offer bilva leaves to the Linga and cultivate non-harm and reverence toward life, seeing every form as pervaded by the Lord.