Shloka 6

Pitṛbhakti and Śrāddha: The Classification of Pitṛs and the Superiority of Pitṛ-kārya

Devanagari script

यच्छंति पितरः पुष्टिं प्रजाश्च विपुलास्तथा । स्वर्गमारोग्यवृद्धिं च यदन्यदपि चेप्सितम्

Transliteration

yacchaṃti pitaraḥ puṣṭiṃ prajāśca vipulāstathā | svargamārogyavṛddhiṃ ca yadanyadapi cepsitam

Translation

يمنح البِتْرِ الغذاءَ والقوّةَ والهناء، ويهبون كذلك ذريةً وافرة. وتُنال السماءُ والصحّةُ والازدهار؛ بل إنّ كلَّ ما يشتهيه العابد يتحقّق أيضاً (ببركة هذا الثواب المتمحور حول شِيفا).

Word by Word

• yacchanti: they grant, give
• yacchanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yam (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; धातु: यम् (to give/offer)

• pitaraḥ: the ancestors
• pitaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

• puṣṭim: nourishment, prosperity
• puṣṭim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• prajāḥ: offspring, progeny
• prajāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

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

• vipulāḥ: abundant, many
• vipulāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vipula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying प्रजाः)

• tathā: thus, likewise
• tathā: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• svargam: heaven
• svargam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• ārogya-vṛddhim: health and increase (prosperity/growth)
• ārogya-vṛddhim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārogya (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (वृद्धिः), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: आरोग्यं च वृद्धिः च (as a combined boon)

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

• yat: whatever
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-यत् (relative pronoun)

• anyat: other
• anyat: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying implied 'thing')

• api: also, even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

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

• īpsitam: desired, wished-for
• īpsitam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √āp/īps (धातु) → īpsita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) = 'desired'

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Uma Samhita teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Enumerates phala (boons) typical of Purāṇic dharma: puṣṭi, prajā, svarga, ārogya, vṛddhi—seen as ancillary fruits that support the soul’s gradual purification toward Śiva’s grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs

FAQs

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

It teaches that when Shiva-oriented merit is performed, harmony extends to the ancestral realm: the Pitṛs become satisfied and confer well-being, while Shiva’s grace supports both worldly order (health, prosperity, progeny) and the devotee’s broader aims—ultimately aligning desires with dharma.

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

In the Shiva Purana, Linga/Saguna Shiva worship is presented as a complete support for life: it sustains family lineage (prajā), pleases the Pitṛs, and grants auspicious results. The verse reflects the Purāṇic principle that devotion to Shiva as the accessible Saguna Lord becomes a channel for both ancestral upliftment and the devotee’s welfare.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is regular Shiva-pūjā—especially Linga abhiṣeka with mantra-japa (notably the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—performed with a Pitṛ-pleasing intention (tarpana/śrāddha in a Shaiva spirit), seeking health, prosperity, and inner steadiness.