Shloka 42

प्रणवार्थ-शिवतत्त्व-निर्णयः

The Determination of Śiva as the Meaning of Praṇava

Devanagari script

प्रपितामहनामा च सपत्नीकाः प्रकीर्त्तिताः । मातामहात्मकश्राद्धे त्रयो मातामहादयः

Transliteration

prapitāmahanāmā ca sapatnīkāḥ prakīrttitāḥ | mātāmahātmakaśrāddhe trayo mātāmahādayaḥ

Translation

Ebenso sollen die Urgroßväter namentlich genannt werden, zusammen mit ihren Ehefrauen. Und beim śrāddha für die mütterliche Linie sind die drei—beginnend mit dem Großvater mütterlicherseits—anzurufen und zu ehren.

Word by Word

• प्रपितामहनामा: (those) named ‘prapitāmaha’
• प्रपितामहनामा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रपितामह-नामन् (प्रातिपदिक; प्रपितामह + नामन्)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘प्रपितामहः नाम यस्य/येषाम्’ = whose name is prapitāmaha); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (agreeing with implied persons)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• सपत्नीकाḥ: together with their wives
• सपत्नीकाḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-पत्नीका (प्रातिपदिक; स + पत्नीका)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (‘पत्नीका सह’ = with wives); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• प्रकीर्त्तिताः: are proclaimed
• प्रकीर्त्तिताः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+कीर्त् (धातु) → प्रकीर्तित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘are declared’

• मातामहात्मकश्राद्धे: in the mātāmaha-type śrāddha
• मातामहात्मकश्राद्धे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातामह-आत्मक-श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; मातामह + आत्मक + श्राद्ध)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: ‘मातामहात्मकं श्राद्धम्’ = śrāddha characterized by maternal-grandfather group); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• त्रयः: three
• त्रयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• मातामहादयः: maternal grandfather and others
• मातामहादयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातामह-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; मातामह + आदि)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मातामहः आदिः येषाम्/‘mātāmaha and others’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the śrāddha discipline as taught in the Kailāsa-saṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; continues śrāddha-vidhi specifying nāma-ucchāraṇa (reciting names) and inclusion of patnīs (wives) in pitṛ-invocation.

Significance: Correct naming and inclusion of spouses is treated as ensuring completeness (pūrṇatā) of pitṛ-tarpaṇa and family-line continuity.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

FAQs

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

It emphasizes dharmic gratitude and continuity: honoring the pitṛs (ancestors) with correct remembrance (name and lineage) purifies the doer’s mind and supports orderly worldly life, which in Shaiva practice becomes a foundation for steadiness in bhakti and yoga toward Shiva.

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

In the Shiva Purana, household rites like śrāddha are not opposed to Shiva-bhakti; they are harmonized with it. By maintaining dharma and purity through prescribed rites, the devotee becomes fit for Saguna Shiva worship (including Linga-pūjā) and for receiving Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is correct śrāddha recitation: invoke three ancestors in the maternal line (mātāmaha and the two preceding generations) and likewise name great-grandfathers along with their wives. Perform offerings with a concentrated, reverent mind, optionally supporting the rite with Shiva-smaraṇa (remembrance of Shiva) and japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as a purifier.