Shloka 44

सामान्यतो नरकगतिवर्णनम्

General Description of the Course of Hell / Naraka-gati

Devanagari script

तप्तेन वज्रलेपेन शरीरमनुलिप्यते । अधोमुखोर्ध्वपादाश्च तातप्यंते स्म वह्निना

Transliteration

taptena vajralepena śarīramanulipyate | adhomukhordhvapādāśca tātapyaṃte sma vahninā

Translation

ತಪ್ತವಾದ ವಜ್ರಲೇಪದಿಂದ ಅವರ ದೇಹವನ್ನು ಲೇಪಿಸಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ; ನಂತರ ತಲೆಕೆಳಗಾಗಿ, ಕಾಲುಗಳನ್ನು ಮೇಲಿಟ್ಟು, ಅಗ್ನಿಯಿಂದ ದಹಿಸಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.

Word by Word

• तप्तेन: heated
• तप्तेन: Karaṇa-viśeṣaṇa (करण-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तप् (धातु) → तप्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वज्रलेपेन)

• वज्रलेपेन: with a vajra-like coating/plaster
• वज्रलेपेन: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक) + लेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (वज्रस्य लेपः); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करणम्

• शरीरम्: the body
• शरीरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (passive construction)

• अनुलिप्यते: is smeared/coated
• अनुलिप्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + लिप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive: ‘is smeared/coated’)

• अधोमुखोर्ध्वपादाः: those with faces downward and feet upward
• अधोमुखोर्ध्वपादाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधोमुख (प्रातिपदिक) + ऊर्ध्वपाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समासः (अधोमुखाः च ऊर्ध्वपादाः च); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणवत् (ते/नराः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (conjunction)

• तातप्यन्ते: are scorched/tormented by heat
• तातप्यन्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु) (causative/denominative passive sense: तातप्यते)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (are made to burn/are scorched)

• स्म: indeed/then (past narrative particle)
• स्म: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; भूतार्थ-निपातः/स्मरणार्थकः (particle indicating past narration/emphasis)

• वह्निना: by fire
• वह्निना: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Uma-Samhita teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Kālāntaka

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates the severity of pāpa (sin) and its karmic consequences: the bound soul (paśu) experiences intense suffering under pasha (bondage) until purification ripens and the soul turns toward Pati—Lord Shiva—for liberation.

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

By contrasting torment born of karma with the refuge of Shiva, it implicitly points to Saguna Shiva worship—especially devotion to the Linga—as a remedy through repentance, dharma, and grace, which loosen pasha and redirect the mind toward liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is prāyaścitta and Shiva-upāsanā: sincere repentance, regular japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and purifying disciplines such as bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa with ethical restraint to prevent pāpa from maturing into suffering.