Shloka 15

सामान्यतो नरकगतिवर्णनम्

General Description of the Course of Hell / Naraka-gati

Devanagari script

तैलपूर्णकटाहेषु सुतप्तेषु पुनःपुनः । बहुधा पच्यते जिह्वा प्रपीड्योरसि पादयोः

Transliteration

tailapūrṇakaṭāheṣu sutapteṣu punaḥpunaḥ | bahudhā pacyate jihvā prapīḍyorasi pādayoḥ

Translation

எண்ணெய் நிரம்பிய, மிகச் சூடேறிய கடாய்களில் மீண்டும் மீண்டும் நாவு பலவிதமாகச் சமைக்கப்படுகிறது; மேலும் கால்களால் மார்பை கடுமையாக அழுத்துகின்றனர்।

Word by Word

• taila-pūrṇa-kaṭāheṣu: in oil-filled cauldrons
• taila-pūrṇa-kaṭāheṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taila (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + kaṭāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: तैलेन पूर्णेषु कटाहेषु (in cauldrons filled with oil)

• su-tapteṣu: well-heated, very hot
• su-tapteṣu: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय-उपसर्ग/उपपद) + tapta (तप्त) < √tap (तप् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural); ‘सु’ उपपदेन विशेषितम्—अतिशयतप्तेषु

• punaḥ-punaḥ: again and again
• punaḥ-punaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय) + punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: आवृत्ति-अव्यय (repetitive adverb: again and again)

• bahudhā: in many ways; much
• bahudhā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahudhā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb: in many ways/much)

• pacyate: is cooked
• pacyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pac (पच् धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• jihvā: the tongue
• jihvā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jihvā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• prapīḍya: having pressed
• prapīḍya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pra-√pīḍ (पीड् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): ‘having pressed/crushed’

• urasi: on the chest
• urasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• pādayoḥ: of the two feet
• pādayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन (Dual)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Repetitive torment (‘punaḥpunaḥ’) as cyclic karma-vipāka until exhaustion of demerit

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It warns that misuse of speech and the tongue binds the soul (paśu) through pāśa (karmic fetters), leading to severe suffering; restraint and truthfulness become prerequisites for approaching Pati (Shiva) and liberation.

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

Linga-worship is not merely external; it requires inner purity. This verse highlights that devotion to Saguna Shiva must be accompanied by disciplined speech and conduct, otherwise karmic reactions obstruct the fruit of worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa with the Panchakshara mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) alongside vows of truthful, non-harmful speech (mauna/mitabhāṣa), supported by Shaiva purificatory observances such as bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and regular worship.