Varaha Purana 200.2: Adhyaya 200, Shloka 2

Description of the Forms of Infernal Torments

Naraka Yātanās

Devanagari script

अन्धकारश्च नरकोऽन्धकारवरस्तथा ॥ अष्टावेतॆ तु नरकाः पच्यन्ते यत्र पापिनः ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 200.2

Transliteration

andhakāraś ca narako 'ndhakāravaras tathā || aṣṭāv ete tu narakāḥ pacyante yatra pāpinaḥ ||

Translation

అంధకారము అనే నరకము ఉంది; అలాగే అంధకారవరము (అతిగాఢాంధకారము) కూడా ఉంది. ఇవే ఎనిమిది నరకాలు; అక్కడ పాపులు దండయాతనలో కాలిపోతారు.

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Word by Word

• andhakāraḥ: (hell called) Andhakāra (darkness)
• andhakāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate-noun (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: andhakāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• narakaḥ: (hell called) Naraka
• narakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate-noun (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• andhakāra-varaḥ: (hell called) Andhakāravara
• andhakāra-varaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate-noun (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: andhakāra (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa—‘andhakārasya varaḥ’ (best/foremost darkness) used as name

• tathā: likewise; also
• tathā: Samuccaya/Anvaya (अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning ‘likewise’

• aṣṭau: eight
• aṣṭau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural (बहुवचन); numeral adjective (संख्यावाचक) qualifying narakāḥ

• ete: these
• ete: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• tu: but; indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• narakāḥ: hells
• narakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• pacyante: are tormented; are cooked
• pacyante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pac (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person, Plural; Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद); passive sense (कर्मणि प्रयोग) ‘are cooked/tormented’

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, relative adverb (सम्बन्धबोधक) ‘where’

• pāpinaḥ: sinners
• pāpinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; agent noun meaning ‘sinners’

Speaker

Ṛṣiputra

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Studies
• Afterlife Topography
• Sanskrit Lexicography

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It provides a structured ‘eightfold’ list of narakas, showing how Purāṇic texts systematize moral pedagogy through cosmological taxonomy.

Which geographic location is identified?

No earthly location is specified; the verse refers to infernal realms as part of Purāṇic cosmology.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Actions characterized as pāpa are presented as leading to suffering; the verse functions as a moral caution within a karmic framework.