Shloka 35

सामान्यतो नरकगतिवर्णनम्

General Description of the Course of Hell / Naraka-gati

Devanagari script

दृढं रज्ज्वादिभिर्बद्ध्वा प्रपीड्यंते शिलासु च । क्षिप्यंते चान्धकूपेषु दश्यंते भ्रमरैर्भृशम्

Transliteration

dṛḍhaṃ rajjvādibhirbaddhvā prapīḍyaṃte śilāsu ca | kṣipyaṃte cāndhakūpeṣu daśyaṃte bhramarairbhṛśam

Translation

दोऱ्या इत्यादींनी घट्ट बांधून त्यांना शिळांवर चिरडले जाते; अंधाऱ्या कूपांतही फेकले जाते आणि भ्रमरांचे थवे त्यांना अत्यंत चावतात.

Word by Word

• dṛḍham: firmly
• dṛḍham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dṛḍha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषण-रूपेण द्वितीया एकवचन)

• rajjv-ādibhiḥ: with ropes and the like
• rajjv-ādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajjū (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुषः (रज्ज्वादयः = ropes etc.)

• baddhvā: having bound
• baddhvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bandh (बन्ध् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/अव्ययकृदन्त)

• prapīḍyante: are crushed/pressed
• prapīḍyante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+√pīḍ (पीड् धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Passive voice (कर्मणि), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); उपसर्गः प्र

• śilāsu: on/among stones
• śilāsu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• kṣipyante: are thrown
• kṣipyante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṣip (क्षिप् धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Passive voice (कर्मणि), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• andha-kūpeṣu: into blind/dark wells
• andha-kūpeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: andha (प्रातिपदिक) + kūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मधारयः (अन्धः कूपः)

• daśyante: are bitten
• daśyante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √daś (दश् धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Passive voice (कर्मणि), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bhramaraiḥ: by bees
• bhramaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhramara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bhṛśam: excessively, greatly
• bhṛśam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhṛśam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

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?

The verse underscores karmic retribution: when the pashu (bound soul) remains caught in pasha (bondage) through adharma, suffering follows; liberation arises by turning to Pati—Lord Shiva—through right conduct and devotion.

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

By highlighting the terror of bondage and its fruits, the text implicitly urges refuge in Saguna Shiva—worship of the Linga with bhakti, purity, and repentance—so that Shiva’s grace loosens karmic bonds and redirects the soul toward moksha.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is regular japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), along with Shiva-prayashchitta—confession, restraint from harm, and simple Linga-puja (water/leaf offering)—to weaken pasha and cultivate sattva.