Shloka 30

नरकनामनिर्णयः

Catalogue of Narakas and Karmic Causes

Devanagari script

प्रायश्चित्तं तु यस्यैव पापं पुंसः प्रजायते । कृते पापेऽनुतापोऽपि शिवसंस्मरणं परम्

Transliteration

prāyaścittaṃ tu yasyaiva pāpaṃ puṃsaḥ prajāyate | kṛte pāpe'nutāpo'pi śivasaṃsmaraṇaṃ param

Translation

மனிதனில் எந்தப் பாவம் தோன்றினாலும், அதற்கான பிராயச்சித்தம் இதுவே—பாவம் செய்த பின்பும் வருத்தம் கொண்டு, ஸ்ரீசிவனைப் பரமமாக நினைவு கூர்வதே உயர்ந்த நிவாரணம்.

Word by Word

• prāyaścittam: expiation
• prāyaścittam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāyaścitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (निपात) expressing contrast/emphasis

• yasya: of whom/whose
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th), Singular; relative pronoun

• eva: only/indeed
• eva: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) for restriction/emphasis

• pāpam: sin
• pāpam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular

• puṃsaḥ: of a man
• puṃsaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pumān (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Singular

• prajāyate: arises/is produced
• prajāyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√jan (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• kṛte: when done
• kṛte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); past passive participle used in locative absolute sense: ‘when (sin) is done’

• pāpe: in/when (a) sin
• pāpe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular; with kṛte forming locative absolute

• anutāpaḥ: remorse
• anutāpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anutāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• api: also
• api: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) meaning ‘also/even’

• śiva-saṃsmaraṇam: remembrance of Śiva
• śiva-saṃsmaraṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva + saṃsmaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक; from saṃ-√smṛ (धातु) + ल्युट्/ana)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; compound: Śivasya saṃsmaraṇam (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; predicate adjective

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General instruction: prāyaścitta is internalized as anutāpa (remorse) oriented toward Śiva-saṃsmaraṇa; no specific shrine narrative.

Significance: Teaches the pilgrim-householder that repentance is not merely fear of punishment but a turning (nivṛtti) toward Śiva, enabling purification and future restraint.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: शिवसंस्मरणं परम्

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Karmic ‘burning’ through inner contrition and divine recollection (attenuation of karmamala)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that inner transformation is essential: genuine remorse for wrongdoing, crowned by constant remembrance of Śiva (śiva-saṁsmaraṇa), becomes the highest purification and turns the mind back toward grace and liberation.

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

Śiva-remembrance is supported by Saguna worship—such as Linga-pūjā, japa of the Panchākṣarī, and contemplation of Śiva’s compassionate form—so that repentance becomes steady devotion rather than mere guilt.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Śiva-smaraṇa through Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), mental recollection of Śiva’s name and qualities, and simple purifying observances like vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and daily worship as supports for sincere repentance.