Shloka 40

सामान्यतो नरकगतिवर्णनम्

General Description of the Course of Hell / Naraka-gati

Devanagari script

रज्जुभिर्वेष्टिताश्चैव प्रलिप्ताः कर्द्दमेन च । करीषतुषवह्नौ च पच्यंते न म्रियंति च

Transliteration

rajjubhirveṣṭitāścaiva praliptāḥ karddamena ca | karīṣatuṣavahnau ca pacyaṃte na mriyaṃti ca

Translation

ते रज्जूंनी वेढलेले असतात आणि चिखलाने सर्वांगाला लेपलेले असतात. शेणकांड्या व तुसाच्या आगीत भाजले तरी ते शिजत-झुलसत राहतात, पण मरत नाहीत.

Word by Word

• रज्जुभिः: with ropes
• रज्जुभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रज्जु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वेष्टिताः: wrapped, bound around
• वेष्टिताः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेष्ट् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त; PPP)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मणि क्त (PPP), विशेषण (qualifier)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• प्रलिप्ताः: smeared, plastered
• प्रलिप्ताः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + लिप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त; PPP)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मणि क्त (PPP)

• कर्दमेन: with mud/sludge
• कर्दमेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्दम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• करीषतुषवह्नौ: in the fire of dung and husks
• करीषतुषवह्नौ: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करीषतुषवह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) = करीष + तुष + वह्नि
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); compound meaning 'in the fire of dung and husks'

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• पच्यन्ते: are cooked, roasted
• पच्यन्ते: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (passive sense: are cooked/baked)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• म्रियन्ते: die
• म्रियन्ते: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: ordained bhoga: suffering continues without death until karma is exhausted

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It illustrates that when events unfold under divine ordinance and the momentum of karma, ordinary means of harm may fail; endurance and survival are shown as effects of the Lord’s governance (Pati) over bound souls (paśu) and their bonds (pāśa).

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

Saguna Shiva, worshipped as the Linga, is presented as the compassionate Lord who regulates fate and protects according to dharma; the verse supports the Purana’s theme that refuge in Shiva ultimately transcends fear and suffering.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to cultivate śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge) in Shiva through steady japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and regular Shiva worship, trusting the Lord’s ordering power amidst adversity.