Shloka 55

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

Devanagari script

विविधा व्याधयः कुष्ठा नानारूपा भयावहाः । शक्तिशूलांकुशधराः पाशचक्रासिपाणयः

Transliteration

vividhā vyādhayaḥ kuṣṭhā nānārūpā bhayāvahāḥ | śaktiśūlāṃkuśadharāḥ pāśacakrāsipāṇayaḥ

Translation

诸般疾病——多种多样的麻风，形态各异而令人战栗——皆现身执持兵器：手持长矛、三叉戟与钩杖；又持绳索、神轮（chakra）与利剑于掌中。

Word by Word

• विविधाः: various
• विविधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• व्याधयः: diseases
• व्याधयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• कुष्ठाः: leprosies/skin-diseases
• कुष्ठाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; व्याधिविशेष-नाम

• नानारूपाः: of many forms
• नानारूपाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/पूर्वपद) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• भयावहाः: bringing fear
• भयावहाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय + आवह (प्रातिपदिक; आवह = √वह् (धातु) + आ- उपसर्ग, णिनि/अच्-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• शक्तिशूलाङ्कुशधराः: bearing spear, trident, and goad
• शक्तिशूलाङ्कुशधराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्ति + शूल + अङ्कुश + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• पाशचक्रासिपाणयः: (those) with hands holding noose, discus, and sword
• पाशचक्रासिपाणयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश + चक्र + असि + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (पाश-चक्र-असि-इति) + पाणि; ‘whose hands (hold) noose, discus, sword’ इत्यर्थे बहुवचन-प्रयोगः

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Āghoramūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse personifies disease and suffering as fearsome, weapon-bearing forces—an image of pasha (bondage) that torments the bound soul (paśu). In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such afflictions point to karmic limitation and the need to seek Shiva (Pati) as the liberator who removes fear and impurity.

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

By portraying suffering as an active, threatening power, the text implicitly directs the devotee toward Saguna Shiva—approached through the Linga—as refuge and protector. Linga-worship centers the mind on Shiva’s grace, which pacifies fear and counters the forces that bind the soul.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Linga-dhyana, supported by Shaiva observances like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as reminders of renunciation and protection, especially during Mahashivratri vows.