Shloka 16

नरकयातनावर्णनम् / Description of Hell-Torments for Specific Transgressions

Devanagari script

परदारांश्च पश्यन्ति लुब्धास्स्तब्धेन चक्षुषा । सूचीभिश्चाग्निवर्णाभिस्तेषां नेत्रप्रपूरणम्

Transliteration

paradārāṃśca paśyanti lubdhāsstabdhena cakṣuṣā | sūcībhiścāgnivarṇābhisteṣāṃ netraprapūraṇam

Translation

பேராசையுடன் பிறனுடைய மனைவியை வெட்கமற்ற கடின பார்வையால் நோக்கும் மனிதர்களின் கண்கள், தீ நிறமுடைய ஊசி போன்ற கருவிகளால் நிரப்பி துளைக்கப்படுகின்றன.

Word by Word

• para-dārān: others’ wives
• para-dārān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + dāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मधारयः (parāḥ dārāḥ = others’ wives)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• paśyanti: see; look at
• paśyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• lubdhāḥ: the greedy/lustful (men)
• lubdhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lubdha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• stabdhena: rigid; unblinking
• stabdhena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: stabdha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) agreeing with cakṣuṣā in sense as adjective used instrumentally; Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• cakṣuṣā: with the eye; with sight
• cakṣuṣā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakṣus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• sūcībhiḥ: with needles
• sūcībhiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūcī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• agni-varṇābhiḥ: of fire-color; fiery
• agni-varṇābhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (agner varṇaḥ)

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• netra-prapūraṇam: filling of the eyes
• netra-prapūraṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: netra (प्रातिपदिक) + prapūraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (netrasya prapūraṇam)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that misusing the senses—especially the lustful gaze—creates binding karma (pāśa) that results in intense suffering; sense-restraint and purity support liberation under Śiva’s dharma.

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

Linga-worship is paired with ethical discipline; devotion to Saguna Śiva is considered fruitful when the devotee curbs lust and honors marital dharma, transforming the gaze from craving to reverence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice indriya-nigraha (sense-control) with daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and cultivate purity through Śiva-dhyāna so the eyes become instruments of darśana rather than desire.