Shloka 20

नरकनामनिर्णयः

Catalogue of Narakas and Karmic Causes

Devanagari script

व्रतस्य लोपका ये च स्वाश्रमाद्विच्युताश्च ये । संदंशयातनामध्ये पतंति भृशदारुणे

Transliteration

vratasya lopakā ye ca svāśramādvicyutāśca ye | saṃdaṃśayātanāmadhye pataṃti bhṛśadāruṇe

Translation

Aqueles que destroem ou abandonam seus votos sagrados (vrata), e aqueles que se desviam da disciplina do próprio āśrama, precipitam-se no tormento terrivelmente cruel chamado “Sandaṃśa”, um inferno de sofrimento incessante.

Word by Word

• व्रतस्य: of the vow
• व्रतस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• लोपकाः: destroyers/violators
• लोपकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोपक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्तृवाचक-नाम

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम

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

• स्व-आश्रमात्: from one’s own āśrama/stage of life
• स्व-आश्रमात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; अपादान (ablative)

• विच्युताः: fallen away, deviated
• विच्युताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+च्युत (कृदन्त; √च्यु ‘to fall/move away’)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘ये’ इत्यस्य

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

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम

• संदंश-यातना-मध्ये: in the midst of the ‘Saṃdaṃśa’ torment
• संदंश-यातना-मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संदंश (प्रातिपदिक) + यातना (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• पतन्ति: fall
• पतन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• भृश-दारुणे: in the exceedingly dreadful (place)
• भृश-दारुणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भृश (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘मध्ये’ इत्यस्य (locative agreement)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana account to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Umāsaṃhitā discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

FAQs

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

It warns that violating vowed disciplines (vrata) and abandoning one’s āśrama-dharma strengthens pāśa (bondage) and leads to painful karmic retribution; steadiness in dharma is presented as a prerequisite for purification and eventual grace-oriented liberation in the Shaiva frame.

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

Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva devotion in the Shiva Purana are repeatedly tied to niyama—truthfulness, purity, and vow-keeping. This verse underscores that outer worship without inner discipline becomes hollow; vrata supports the devotee’s fitness (adhikāra) for Shiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain one’s chosen Shiva-vrata with consistency—daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), purity disciplines, and regulated conduct suited to one’s āśrama; these stabilize the mind and prevent vow-lapse that creates heavier karmic bondage.