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

انسان میں جو گناہ پیدا ہوتا ہے، اُس کا پرायش्चت یہی ہے—گناہ ہو جانے کے بعد بھی ندامت کے ساتھ بھگوان شِو کا اعلیٰ ترین سمرن ہی سب سے بڑا علاج ہے۔

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.