Shloka 16
नरकलोकमार्गयमदूतस्वरूपवर्णनम् / Description of the Path to Naraka and the Nature of Yama’s Messengers
क्वचित्सिंहैर्वृकैर्व्याघ्रैर्मशकैश्च सुदारुणैः । क्वचिन्महाजलौकाभिः क्वचिच्चाजगरैस्तथा
kvacitsiṃhairvṛkairvyāghrairmaśakaiśca sudāruṇaiḥ | kvacinmahājalaukābhiḥ kvaciccājagaraistathā
کہیں شیر، بھیڑیے اور ببر شیر تھے، اور نہایت ہولناک مچھر بھی؛ کہیں بڑی بڑی جونکیں تھیں؛ اور کہیں اسی طرح دیوہیکل اژدہے بھی تھے۔
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
FAQs
The verse portrays a landscape filled with threats, suggesting that worldly existence (saṃsāra) is fraught with fear and disturbance; Shaiva teaching emphasizes that steadiness of mind and devotion to Pati (Shiva) enables one to pass beyond such pasha-like obstructions.
By highlighting danger and instability, it implicitly points the devotee toward a stable refuge—Saguna Shiva worship (including Linga-upāsanā) as a protective focus where the mind gathers, fear subsides, and the devotee remains oriented to Shiva’s grace.
A practical takeaway is to hold to japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” during fear or adversity, along with maintaining Shaiva marks like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and disciplined breath/mind control to remain unwavering.