Shloka 42

नरकयातनावर्णनम् / Description of Hell-Torments for Specific Transgressions

Devanagari script

वयोभिः कृमिकीटैश्च गृहस्थश्चोपजीव्यते । स्वाहाकारः स्वधाकारो वषट्कारस्तृतीयकः

Transliteration

vayobhiḥ kṛmikīṭaiśca gṛhasthaścopajīvyate | svāhākāraḥ svadhākāro vaṣaṭkārastṛtīyakaḥ

Translation

O chefe de família é sustentado pelas aves e também por vermes e insetos. A exclamação sagrada “svāhā”, a exclamação “svadhā” e, como terceira, a exclamação “vaṣaṭ” são os chamados a serem empregados nos ritos.

Word by Word

• वयोभिः: by ages/years
• वयोभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• कृमि-कीटैः: by worms and insects
• कृमि-कीटैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृमि (प्रातिपदिक) + कीट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास

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

• गृहस्थः: the householder
• गृहस्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

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

• उपजीव्यते: is lived on / is sustained
• उपजीव्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive)

• स्वाहा-कारः: the ‘svāhā’ utterance
• स्वाहा-कारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाहा (अव्यय/मन्त्रपद) + कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी/उपपद-तत्पुरुष ("स्वाहा"-शब्दयुक्तः कारः)

• स्वधा-कारः: the ‘svadhā’ utterance
• स्वधा-कारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वधा (अव्यय/मन्त्रपद) + कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष

• वषट्-कारः: the ‘vaṣaṭ’ utterance
• वषट्-कारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वषट् (अव्यय/मन्त्रपद) + कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष

• तृतीयकः: the third
• तृतीयकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीयक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: svāhā / svadhā / vaṣaṭ

Type: rudram

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

FAQs

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

It frames gṛhastha-dharma as a life of mutual dependence and sacred duty: even ordinary living involves other beings, so one should live responsibly and sanctify actions through Vedic calls used in offerings—aligning worldly life with dharma that supports inner purification.

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

While not naming the Liṅga directly, it supports Saguna Shiva-oriented practice by emphasizing sanctified ritual action (homa, offerings, ancestral rites). In Shaiva living, such disciplined rites become supportive auxiliaries to Shiva-bhakti and purification that prepares the devotee for deeper Shiva-realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to proper use of ritual utterances—“svāhā” in fire offerings, “svadhā” in pitṛ-related rites, and “vaṣaṭ” in Vedic oblations—encouraging a householder to perform daily/occasional yajña with reverence, alongside Shaiva remembrance and mantra-japa.