Shloka 49

नरकलोकमार्गयमदूतस्वरूपवर्णनम् / Description of the Path to Naraka and the Nature of Yama’s Messengers

Devanagari script

ये पुनः क्रूरकर्म्माणस्ते पश्यंति भयानकम् । दंष्ट्राकरालवदनं भृकुटीकुटिलेक्षणम्

Transliteration

ye punaḥ krūrakarmmāṇaste paśyaṃti bhayānakam | daṃṣṭrākarālavadanaṃ bhṛkuṭīkuṭilekṣaṇam

Translation

Но те, кто занят жестокими деяниями, видят страшное видение: лик ужасный, с выступающими клыками и глазами, искривлёнными от узловатых, нахмуренных бровей.

Word by Word

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम

• पुनः: again, further
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरुक्ति/पुनरागमन-अव्यय (adverb: again/further)

• क्रूरकर्माणः: of cruel deeds
• क्रूरकर्माणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रूर-कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (क्रूरं कर्म यस्य/क्रूरं कर्म)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; निर्देश-सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• पश्यन्ति: see
• पश्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• भयानकम्: terrifying (thing/form)
• भयानकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भयानक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेष्य-रूपेण (as object)

• दंष्ट्राकरालवदनम्: a face dreadful with fangs
• दंष्ट्राकरालवदनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दंष्ट्रा-कराल-वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः बहुपद-कर्मधारयः (करालं वदनं यस्य दंष्ट्रा-विशिष्टम्)

• भृकुटीकुटिलेक्षणम्: with a crooked (frowning) gaze
• भृकुटीकुटिलेक्षणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भृकुटी-कुटिल-ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (कुटिलं ईक्षणं यस्य भृकुटी-विशिष्टम्)

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?

It teaches that cruelty (krūra-karma) strengthens pāśa—karmic bondage—and produces inner terror that manifests as frightening visions, urging the seeker to turn toward Shiva-centered purification and compassion.

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

By contrasting fearful perceptions born of impure karma with the stabilizing refuge of Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—which calms the mind, purifies tendencies, and redirects the gaze from terror to auspiciousness (śiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) with remembrance of Shiva, and practice ahiṁsā and self-restraint to weaken cruel impulses and their fearful karmic results.