Shloka 7

सामान्यतो नरकगतिवर्णनम्

General Description of the Course of Hell / Naraka-gati

Devanagari script

ततोंऽकुशैरग्निवर्णैर्लोह दण्डैश्च दारुणैः । हन्यंते किंकरैघोरैस्समन्तात्पापकर्म्मिणः

Transliteration

tatoṃ'kuśairagnivarṇairloha daṇḍaiśca dāruṇaiḥ | hanyaṃte kiṃkaraighoraissamantātpāpakarmmiṇaḥ

Translation

ನಂತರ ಅಗ್ನಿವರ್ಣ ಅಂಕುಶಗಳೂ ಕಠೋರ ಲೋಹದಂಡಗಳೂ ಬಳಸಿ, ಎಲ್ಲೆಡೆಯಿಂದ ಭೀಕರ ಕಿಂಕರರು ಪಾಪಕರ್ಮಿಗಳನ್ನು ಹೊಡೆದು ದಂಡಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ।

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverb)

• अङ्कुशैः: with goads
• अङ्कुशैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• अग्निवर्णैः: fire-colored, fiery
• अग्निवर्णैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्नि + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (अग्नेः वर्णः इव)

• लोहदण्डैः: with iron rods
• लोहदण्डैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोह + दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (लोहमयाः दण्डाः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• दारुणैः: cruel/terrible
• दारुणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• हन्यन्ते: are struck/killed
• हन्यन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• किंकरैः: by servants (attendants)
• किंकरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• घोरैः: terrifying
• घोरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of किंकरैः)

• समन्तात्: from all sides
• समन्तात्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्तात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• पापकर्मिणः: evil-doers
• पापकर्मिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप + कर्मिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (पापं कर्म यस्य/येषाम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse belongs to a general naraka-gati (hell-course) description meant to instill dharma and Śiva-bhakti by showing the consequences of pāpa.

Significance: Didactic: motivates avoidance of pāśa (bondage) through ethical conduct, Śiva-upāsanā, and seeking anugraha rather than remaining under karmic retribution.

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Yamadutas

FAQs

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

It underscores the Shaiva Siddhanta view that pāpa (sinful action) strengthens pasha (bondage) and results in inevitable suffering, urging the pashu (bound soul) to turn toward Pati (Shiva) through right conduct and devotion.

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

By contrasting the terror of karmic retribution with the refuge of Shiva, it implicitly directs the devotee to Saguna Shiva—worship of the Linga with mantra and purity—as a path to cleanse karma and move toward Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily Shiva-smarana with the Panchakshara mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), along with sattvic discipline; such practice is traditionally paired with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha to cultivate restraint and devotion.