Shloka 34

Munipraśna-varṇana

Description of the Sages’ Inquiry

Devanagari script

तनया मातृपित्रोश्च भक्तिहीना दुराशयाः । अविद्यापाठका नित्यं रोगग्रसितदेहकाः

Transliteration

tanayā mātṛpitrośca bhaktihīnā durāśayāḥ | avidyāpāṭhakā nityaṃ rogagrasitadehakāḥ

Translation

Kinder, denen die hingebungsvolle Ehrfurcht vor Mutter und Vater fehlt, hegen verirrte Hoffnungen. Unablässig befleißigen sie sich eines Lernens, das nur Unwissen ist, und ihre Leiber werden fortwährend von Krankheit heimgesucht.

Word by Word

• तनयाः: sons/children
• तनयाः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• मातृ-पित्रोः: of (their) mother and father
• मातृ-पित्रोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक) + पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास; षष्ठी (6th) द्विवचन (dual), उभयलिङ्ग-समाहार (parents); अर्थ: 'of mother and father'

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• भक्ति-हीनाः: devoid of devotion
• भक्ति-हीनाः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (भक्त्या हीनाः)

• दुर्-आशयाः: of evil intentions
• दुर्-आशयाः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; उपसर्ग/उपपद-पूर्वक (दुर्- = bad)

• अविद्या-पाठकाः: teachers/reciters of ignorance (false learning)
• अविद्या-पाठकाः: कर्ता (appositional descriptor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + पाठक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (अविद्यां पठन्ति/पाठकाः)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• रोग-ग्रसित-देहकाः: having bodies seized by disease
• रोग-ग्रसित-देहकाः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रोग (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रसित (कृदन्त; √ग्रस् धातु) + देहक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (ग्रसित = seized)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Kali-yuga: decline of guru/parent reverence; avidyā predominates

FAQs

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

It teaches that disrespect and lack of devotion toward one’s parents reflects inner avidyā (bondage), producing distorted desire and suffering; Shaiva Siddhanta frames this as pasha (bond) that must be purified through right conduct and Shiva-bhakti.

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

Linga-worship is not merely ritual; it must be supported by dharmic living and humility. Reverence to parents is presented as a basic discipline that stabilizes the devotee, making Saguna Shiva worship fruitful rather than superficial.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt daily Shiva-bhakti with the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) alongside ethical vows—especially service and reverence to parents—so that worship is not ‘avidyā’ but a purifier of karma and suffering.