Shloka 31

नरकलोकवर्णनम् (Narakaloka-varṇanam) — Description of the Hell-Realms

Devanagari script

उच्छ्वासस्सुनिरुच्छ्वासो सुदीर्घः कूटशाल्मलिः । दुरिष्टस्सुमहावादः प्रवादस्सुप्रतापनः

Transliteration

ucchvāsassunirucchvāso sudīrghaḥ kūṭaśālmaliḥ | duriṣṭassumahāvādaḥ pravādassupratāpanaḥ

Translation

祂是生命之息，亦是调御的出息；祂是至为长久者；祂是高峻坚固、如śālmali之柱。祂是难以违越的见与令；祂是伟大的宣告；祂是声名远播、能猛烈焚尽垢染的宣示。

Word by Word

• उच्छ्वासः: Ucchvāsa (exhalation/breath)
• उच्छ्वासः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उच्छ्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सुनिरुच्छ्वासः: Sunirucchvāsa (very breathless / with good cessation of breath)
• सुनिरुच्छ्वासः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुनिरुच्छ्वास (प्रातिपदिक) = सु + निरुच्छ्वास
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सु-विशेषणपूर्वक)

• सुदीर्घः: very long
• सुदीर्घः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुदीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक) = सु + दीर्घ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; कर्मधारयः

• कूटशाल्मलिः: Kūṭaśālmali (spiked silk-cotton tree; hell-name)
• कूटशाल्मलिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूटशाल्मलि (प्रातिपदिक) = कूट + शाल्मलि
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-सम्भाव्यः (कूटः शाल्मलिः / कूटवत् शाल्मलिः)

• दुरिष्टः: ill-willed / badly desired
• दुरिष्टः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुरिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) = दुर् + इष्ट
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; कर्मधारयः (दुर्-उपसर्गपूर्वक)

• सुमहावादः: Sumahāvāda (very great clamour/cry)
• सुमहावादः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमहावाद (प्रातिपदिक) = सु + महा + वाद
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः

• प्रवादः: Pravāda (outcry/report)
• प्रवादः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सुप्रतापनः: Supratāpana (greatly scorching one)
• सुप्रतापनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुप्रतापन (प्रातिपदिक) = सु + प्रतापन
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s epithets/attributes to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; this verse shifts from punitive cataloging to Śiva-stuti/epithet style, identifying Śiva as prāṇa (ucchvāsa–niḥśvāsa) and as the purifying proclamation that burns impurity—an anugraha-oriented turn.

Significance: Soteriological: remembering Śiva as the inner breath and purifier supports japa/dhyāna and aligns the paśu toward liberation (pāśa-kṣaya) through grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva as the inner regulator of prāṇa (breath) and as the purifying power whose “proclamation” burns away mala (impurity), aligning the seeker toward liberation.

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

By describing Shiva as enduring and pillar-like, it resonates with the Liṅga symbolism—Shiva as the steadfast support of all existence—while pointing beyond form to the inner presence governing breath and consciousness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Breath-discipline (prāṇāyāma) joined with japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a means of inner purification and steady devotion.