Shloka 19

नरकलोकमार्गयमदूतस्वरूपवर्णनम् / Description of the Path to Naraka and the Nature of Yama’s Messengers

Devanagari script

डाकिनीभिश्च रौद्राभिर्विकरालैश्च राक्षसैः । व्याधिभिश्च महाघोरैः पीड्यमाना व्रजंति हि

Transliteration

ḍākinībhiśca raudrābhirvikarālaiśca rākṣasaiḥ | vyādhibhiśca mahāghoraiḥ pīḍyamānā vrajaṃti hi

Translation

确实，他们四处奔走而受折磨——被凶暴的ḍākinī纠缠，被狰狞可怖的罗刹逼迫，也被极其骇人的疾病所煎迫。

Word by Word

• डाकिनीभिः: by ḍākinīs (female spirits)
• डाकिनीभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: डाकिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

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

• रौद्राभिः: by fierce (ones)
• रौद्राभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रौद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (राक्षसैः इत्यस्य विशेषण), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• विकरालैः: by terrifying (ones)
• विकरालैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकराल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (राक्षसैः इत्यस्य विशेषण), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

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

• राक्षसैः: by demons (rākṣasas)
• राक्षसैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• व्याधिभिः: by diseases/afflictions
• व्याधिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

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

• महा-घोरैः: by very dreadful (ones)
• महा-घोरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग (व्याधिभिः इत्यस्य विशेषण), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• पीड्यमाना: being tormented
• पीड्यमाना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीड् (धातु) + य (कृदन्त, कर्मणि)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि कृदन्त (Present passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• व्रजन्ति: they go/wander
• व्रजन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahākāla

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Dakini
• Rakshasa

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the condition of beings under pāśa (bondage): fear, hostile influences, and disease. In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such torment points to the need for refuge in Pati (Lord Shiva), whose grace alone dissolves the bonds that manifest as suffering.

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

It supports the practical role of Saguna Shiva worship—approaching Shiva as the compassionate protector through Linga-pūjā, mantra, and devotion—so that inner and outer afflictions are pacified and the devotee is led toward steadiness and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A direct takeaway is protective Shaiva practice: japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), regular Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) application, and Linga worship with sincere bhakti as disciplines for purification and fearlessness.