Shloka 53

Devanagari script

यमलोकं व्रजंत्येते शरीरेण यमाज्ञया । यमदूतैर्महाघोरैनीयमानास्सुदुःखिताः

Transliteration

yamalokaṃ vrajaṃtyete śarīreṇa yamājñayā | yamadūtairmahāghorainīyamānāssuduḥkhitāḥ

Translation

Por ordem de Yama, estes seres partem—levando o sutil senso de corporificação—e vão ao reino de Yama; arrastados pelos mensageiros mais terríveis de Yama, ficam oprimidos por intenso sofrimento.

Word by Word

यमलोकम्Yama's world

व्रजन्तिgo

एतेthese (persons)

शरीरेणwith the body

यमाज्ञयाby Yama's command

यमदूतैःby Yama's messengers

महाघोरैःvery terrible

नीयमानाःbeing led

सुदुःखिताःgreatly afflicted

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

Yama

Yamadutas

FAQs

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

It underscores karmic accountability: those bound by pāśa (bondage) are compelled toward Yama’s realm, experiencing suffering as the fruit of actions. In Shaiva Siddhanta, liberation comes by turning to Pati (Shiva) through right conduct, devotion, and grace, transcending fear of Yama.

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

Yama’s control applies to the bound soul (paśu) under karma; worship of Saguna Shiva in the Linga—through pūjā, mantra, and surrender—purifies karma and orients the soul toward Shiva’s grace, which is portrayed as the true refuge beyond punitive after-death states.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as Shaiva disciplines, is implied as a protective, purifying sādhanā that reduces karmic bondage and fear of Yama.