Shloka 21

नरकनामनिर्णयः

Catalogue of Narakas and Karmic Causes

Devanagari script

वीर्यं स्वप्नेषु स्कंदेयुर्ये नरा ब्रह्मचारिणः । पुत्रा नाध्यापिता यैश्च ते पतंति श्वभोजने

Transliteration

vīryaṃ svapneṣu skaṃdeyurye narā brahmacāriṇaḥ | putrā nādhyāpitā yaiśca te pataṃti śvabhojane

Translation

凡受持梵行誓而于梦中亦令精力（vīrya）泄落者，及不教导其子于神圣戒律者，皆堕入名为“śvabhojana”的境地——如同在群犬之间取食般的卑贱堕落。

Word by Word

• वीर्यम्: semen, virility
• वीर्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• स्वप्नेषु: in dreams
• स्वप्नेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वप्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; अधिकरण

• स्कन्देयुः: would discharge/emit
• स्कन्देयुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्कन्द् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम

• नराः: men
• नराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मचारिणः: brahmacārins (celibate students)
• ब्रह्मचारिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; आश्रमवाचक-नाम

• पुत्राः: sons
• पुत्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्तृपद (of passive)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अध्यापिताः: (who were) not taught
• अध्यापिताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि+आप्/अधि+इ (धातु) → अध्यापित (कृदन्त; causative passive ppp of √अधि-इ/अधि-आ-पा ‘to teach’)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे कर्तृपद ‘पुत्राः’

• यैः: by whom
• यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण/कर्तृ (agent/instrument in passive)

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

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• पतन्ति: fall
• पतन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• श्व-भोजने: in Śvabhojana (dog-food hell)
• श्व-भोजने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वन् (प्रातिपदिक) + भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (hell-name/place)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames brahmacarya and śāstra-transmission as dharmic supports for inner purity; negligence increases bondage and delays the soul’s ripening for Śiva’s grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that brahmacarya is not merely external celibacy but mastery over desire at the subtle level of mind and dream; negligence in self-restraint and in transmitting dharma to one’s children strengthens pasha (bondage) and leads to spiritual downfall.

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 (discipline), and sense-control; honoring Saguna Shiva through vrata and worship is contradicted by indulgence and neglect of dharma, which this verse warns against.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain a brahmacarya-vrata with mindfulness and japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), supported by daily purity disciplines (such as bhasma/Tripuṇḍra where appropriate) and dharmic study/teaching within the household.