Shloka 12

नरकनामनिर्णयः

Catalogue of Narakas and Karmic Causes

Devanagari script

अगम्यगामी यश्चांते याति सप्तबलं द्विज । चौरो गोघ्नो हि पतितो मर्यादादूषकस्तथा

Transliteration

agamyagāmī yaścāṃte yāti saptabalaṃ dvija | cauro goghno hi patito maryādādūṣakastathā

Translation

Hỡi bậc nhị sinh, kẻ đi đến điều cấm kỵ (kết hợp bất chính) và rốt cuộc tiến vào ‘bảy sức mạnh’—kẻ ấy phải được biết là kẻ trộm, kẻ sát hại bò, kẻ sa đọa, và cũng là kẻ làm hoen ố ranh giới thiêng cùng trật tự xã hội–tôn giáo.

Word by Word

• अगम्यगामी: one who goes to the forbidden (illicit-goer)
• अगम्यगामी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अगम्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + गामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘अगम्यं गच्छति’ इति; Nominative singular masculine

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; relative pronoun; Nominative singular masculine

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय; conjunction

• अन्ते: at the end
• अन्ते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular (at the end)

• याति: goes/attains
• याति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; Present indicative 3rd person singular

• सप्तबलम्: the sevenfold force/army (saptabala)
• सप्तबलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Dvigu compound; Accusative singular neuter

• द्विज: O twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (आमन्त्रण) विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular masculine

• चौरः: a thief
• चौरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular masculine

• गोघ्नः: cow-killer
• गोघ्नः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्न (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘गां हन्ति’ इति; Nominative singular masculine

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/कारणबोधक अव्यय; particle

• पतितः: fallen (outcaste)
• पतितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पतित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त); Nominative singular masculine

• मर्यादादूषकः: violator/corrupter of boundaries/limits
• मर्यादादूषकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्यादा (प्रातिपदिक) + दूषक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘मर्यादां दूषयति’ इति; Nominative singular masculine

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय; adverb (‘likewise’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Uma Samhita teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga section; it frames illicit sexuality and boundary-violation (maryādā-dūṣaṇa) as producing intensified karmic force (‘saptabala’) leading to patana—deepening pāśa and prolonging saṃsāra.

Significance: Ethical restraint (yama-like discipline) is presented as a support for Śiva-mārga; preserving maryādā is treated as protecting the sacred order that enables worship and community dharma.

FAQs

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

It warns that violating forbidden conduct and dharmic boundaries intensifies bondage (pāśa), leading to spiritual fall (patitatva) and loss of inner purity needed for Shiva-realization.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is grounded in śauca (purity), niyama, and maryādā; this verse emphasizes that ethical collapse obstructs devotion and the grace that flows through disciplined Saguna Shiva worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt restraint and repentance: purify conduct, maintain dharmic limits, and return to steady Shiva-bhakti with mantra-japa (e.g., the Panchakshara) and regular vows aligned with śauca and self-control.