Shloka 30

सामान्यतो नरकगतिवर्णनम्

General Description of the Course of Hell / Naraka-gati

Devanagari script

सुतप्तावालुकायां तु प्रयोज्यंते मुहुर्मुहुः । जंतुपंके भृशं तप्ते क्षिप्ताः क्रन्दंति विस्वरम्

Transliteration

sutaptāvālukāyāṃ tu prayojyaṃte muhurmuhuḥ | jaṃtupaṃke bhṛśaṃ tapte kṣiptāḥ krandaṃti visvaram

Translation

ಕೆಂಪಾಗಿ ಕಾದಿರುವ ಮರಳಿನ ಮೇಲೆ ಅವರನ್ನು ಮರುಮರು ಮಲಗಿಸಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಹುಳುಗಳಿಂದ ತುಂಬಿದ ಭಾರೀ ದಹಿಸುವ ಕೆಸರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಎಸೆಯಲ್ಪಟ್ಟು ಅವರು ಮುರಿದ, ಬೇಸರ ಸ್ವರದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಿರುಚುತ್ತಾರೆ।

Word by Word

सुतप्ता-वालुकायाम्in the red-hot sand

तुindeed/but

प्रयोज्यन्तेare made to be put/are forced (to be placed)

मुहुःagain and again

जन्तु-पङ्केin the mire of creatures (filthy mire)

भृशम्excessively

तप्तेheated/burning

क्षिप्ताःthrown (in)

क्रन्दन्तिcry/wail

विस्वरम्in a hoarse/discordant voice

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the Shaiva principle that painful states arise from karma and pasha (bondage); it urges the soul (pashu) to turn toward Pati—Lord Shiva—through dharma and devotion to avoid such consequences and move toward purification and moksha.

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

By contrasting the misery produced by karmic bondage with the grace-oriented path, it indirectly points to Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga devotion—as a practical means of seeking Shiva’s anugraha (grace) that burns impurities and loosens pasha.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to adopt Shiva-upasana as a remedy to karmic bondage—regular japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), along with disciplined purity and prayer for Shiva’s grace.