Shloka 21

सामान्यतो नरकगतिवर्णनम्

General Description of the Course of Hell / Naraka-gati

Devanagari script

हन्यंते पृष्ठदेशे च पुनर्दीप्तैर्महाघनैः । दन्तुरेणादिकंठेन क्रकचेन बलीसया

Transliteration

hanyaṃte pṛṣṭhadeśe ca punardīptairmahāghanaiḥ | dantureṇādikaṃṭhena krakacena balīsayā

Translation

அவர்கள் எரியும் கனமான கதாயுதங்களால் முதுகில் மீண்டும் மீண்டும் அடிக்கப்படுகிறார்கள், மேலும் ரம்பத்தால் சித்திரவதை செய்யப்படுகிறார்கள்.

Word by Word

• हन्यन्ते: are struck/killed
• हन्यन्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लकारः लट् (Present), पुरुषः प्रथम (3rd), वचनम् बहु (Plural), आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (Passive)

• पृष्ठ-देशे: on the back-region
• पृष्ठ-देशे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचनम्; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पृष्ठस्य देशः)

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

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्ति-वाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb)

• दीप्तैः: with blazing
• दीप्तैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप्त (कृदन्त; √दीप् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचनम्; भूतकृदन्तः (past passive participle)

• महाघनैः: with huge hammers/maces
• महाघनैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + घन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (महान्तः घनाः)

• दन्तुरेण: with the toothed
• दन्तुरेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दन्तुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचनम्

• आदि-कण्ठेन: with the ādi-kaṇṭha (a serrated implement)
• आदि-कण्ठेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचनम्; समासः तत्पुरुषः (आदौ कण्ठः/आदिकण्ठः = a kind of saw/implement)

• क्रकचेन: with a saw
• क्रकचेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रकच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचनम्

• बलीसया: with a hook/harpoon
• बलीसया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलीसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचनम्

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 underscores the Shaiva Siddhanta principle that pāśa (bondage) manifests as the painful fruition of karma; suffering is not random but a consequence that urges the soul (paśu) toward purification and refuge in Pati—Lord Shiva.

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

By contrasting the harsh results of adharma with the saving grace available through Saguna Shiva worship—especially devotion to the Linga—this verse implicitly points to Shiva as the compassionate Lord who loosens karmic bonds when approached with repentance, bhakti, and right conduct.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is prāyaścitta with Shiva-centered sādhanā: Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) with remembrance of Shiva, and sincere ethical restraint to prevent fresh karmic bondage.