Shloka 56

नरकयातनावर्णनम् / Description of Hell-Torments for Specific Transgressions

Devanagari script

पुमान्यो गुरुधर्म्माऽपि सोपवासो यथा गृही । वित्तवान्न विजानाति पीडां नियमसंस्थितः

Transliteration

pumānyo gurudharmmā'pi sopavāso yathā gṛhī | vittavānna vijānāti pīḍāṃ niyamasaṃsthitaḥ

Translation

立于戒律之人——纵遵师尊（guru）所教之法、亦行禁食（upavāsa）——仍难真知那被严峻誓戒（vrata）所拘束者之苦；正如富足家主不解艰辛。

Word by Word

• pumān: a man
• pumān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pumān (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun (सम्बन्धक सर्वनाम)

• guru-dharmā: strict in duty; of weighty observance
• guru-dharmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः: 'guruḥ dharmaḥ yasya' in adjectival sense 'strict in duty/observance'

• api: even; also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (सम्भावना/अपि-कारक अव्यय)

• sa-upavāsaḥ: fasting; with fasting
• sa-upavāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + upavāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); अव्ययीभावः: sa- 'with' + upavāsa = 'with fasting/fasting'

• yathā: as; like
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/relator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (उपमानवाचक अव्यय)

• gṛhī: householder
• gṛhī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛhin (गृहिन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vittavān: wealthy; possessing wealth
• vittavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vitta (प्रातिपदिक) + -vant (वत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेधार्थक अव्यय)

• vijānāti: knows; understands
• vijānāti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√jñā (वि-ज्ञा धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• pīḍām: pain; affliction
• pīḍām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pīḍā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• niyama-saṃsthitaḥ: established in discipline; under observance
• niyama-saṃsthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niyama (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃsthita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'niyame saṃsthitaḥ' (locative relation) = established in observance/discipline

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It cautions that outward observances—guru-instructed duties and fasting—can still leave one insensitive to the real burden of strict restraint. Shaiva teaching emphasizes inner transformation (bhāva, humility, compassion) alongside vrata and niyama, not mere performance.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is not only ritual correctness but also purity of intention and empathy born of discipline. This verse supports Saguna Shiva devotion by stressing that true worship matures into understanding, not pride in austerity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt fasting and vows with steadiness and softness of heart: combine vrata with japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and daily self-restraint (niyama), so discipline becomes a means to compassion and liberation.