Shloka 23

सामान्यतो नरकगतिवर्णनम्

General Description of the Course of Hell / Naraka-gati

Devanagari script

अन्नं पानं न दत्तं यैस्सर्वदा स्वात्मपोषकैः । इक्षुवत्ते प्रपीड्यंते जर्जरीकृत्य मुद्गरैः

Transliteration

annaṃ pānaṃ na dattaṃ yaissarvadā svātmapoṣakaiḥ | ikṣuvatte prapīḍyaṃte jarjarīkṛtya mudgaraiḥ

Translation

ಯಾರು ತಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಮಾತ್ರ ಪೋಷಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಅನ್ನದಾನ ಮಾಡಲಿಲ್ಲವೋ, ಅವರು ಕಬ್ಬಿನಂತೆ ಅರೆಯಲ್ಪಡುತ್ತಾರೆ ಮತ್ತು ಮುದ್ಗರಗಳಿಂದ ಪುಡಿಪುಡಿ ಮಾಡಲ್ಪಡುತ್ತಾರೆ.

Word by Word

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• पानम्: drink
• पानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्ययम् (negation particle)

• दत्तम्: given
• दत्तम्: Kriyā (क्रिया/participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दत्त (कृदन्त; √दा धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; कर्मणि-भावः (given)

• यैः: by whom
• यैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचनम्; सम्बन्धे (by whom)

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb of time)

• स्व-आत्म-पोषकैः: by self-nourishers (those who fed themselves)
• स्व-आत्म-पोषकैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + पोषक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचनम्; समासः (स्वात्मनः पोषकाः) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• इक्षु-वत्: like sugarcane
• इक्षु-वत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इक्षु (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (अव्यय/तद्धित)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक-अव्ययम् (simile particle)

• ते: they (those people)
• ते: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम्

• प्रपीड्यन्ते: are crushed/pressed
• प्रपीड्यन्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + पीड् (धातु)
• Form: लकारः लट्, पुरुषः प्रथम (3rd), वचनम् बहु, आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (Passive)

• जर्जरी-कृत्य: having pulverized
• जर्जरी-कृत्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: जर्जरी (प्रातिपदिक) + √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययम् (absolutive/gerund), ‘having made into pieces’

• मुद्गरैः: with mallets/hammers
• मुद्गरैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्गर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचनम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse condemns self-centered living and teaches that withholding basic sustenance creates heavy karma; in Shaiva thought, compassion and anna-dāna purify the pashu (bound soul) and align one with Shiva’s grace.

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

Linga-worship is not merely ritual display; Saguna Shiva is pleased by dharma expressed as feeding and caring for beings. Service and giving become an outer sign of inner devotion to Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice anna-dāna (offering food and water) as a Shaiva vow—especially on Shiva days—while repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with the intention of reducing selfishness and cultivating compassion.