Shloka 32

नरकयातनावर्णनम् / Description of Hell-Torments for Specific Transgressions

Devanagari script

अतिथिं चावमन्यते काले प्राप्ते गृहाश्रमे । तस्मात्ते दुष्कृतं प्राप्य गच्छंति निरयेऽशुचौ

Transliteration

atithiṃ cāvamanyate kāle prāpte gṛhāśrame | tasmātte duṣkṛtaṃ prāpya gacchaṃti niraye'śucau

Translation

இல்லற வாழ்க்கையில் சரியான நேரம் வரும்போது யாராவது விருந்தினரை அவமதித்தால், அவர்கள் அந்த பாவச் செயலைப் பெற்று அசுத்தமான நரகத்திற்குச் செல்கிறார்கள்।

Word by Word

• अतिथिम्: a guest
• अतिथिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• अवमन्यते: disrespects, scorns
• अवमन्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + मन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• काले: at the time
• काले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time-location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्राप्ते: when (it has) arrived
• प्राप्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + आप्त (कृदन्त; √आप् + क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute) with काले

• गृहाश्रमे: in the householder stage
• गृहाश्रमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location/state)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गृहस्य आश्रमः: 'householder-stage'); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तस्मात्: therefore, from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान; 'therefore/from that')
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

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

• दुष्कृतम्: evil deed, sin
• दुष्कृतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of प्राप्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष् + कृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपसर्गपूर्वक: 'evil-deed'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्राप्य: having obtained
• प्राप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), 'having obtained'

• गच्छन्ति: go
• गच्छन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• निरये: to/in hell
• निरये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Goal-location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निरय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अशुचौ: impure, filthy
• अशुचौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifies निरये)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s dharmic teaching as preserved in the Umāsaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

FAQs

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

It teaches that gṛhastha-dharma is a Shaiva discipline: honoring the atithi is a sacred act of purity and compassion, and violating it binds one through pāśa (karmic fetters) to painful results.

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

In Shaiva understanding, service to beings is service to Shiva present as the indwelling Lord; dishonoring a guest contradicts the spirit of Linga-worship, which demands inner and outer purity, reverence, and humility.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice atithi-sevā as a vrata: offer water, food, and respectful speech; mentally dedicate the act to Shiva with the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), maintaining śauca (purity) and restraint.