Shloka 41

प्रणवार्थ-शिवतत्त्व-निर्णयः

The Determination of Śiva as the Meaning of Praṇava

Devanagari script

मातृश्राद्धे मातृपितामह्यौ च प्रपितामही । आत्मश्राद्धे तु चत्वार आत्मा पितृपितामहौ

Transliteration

mātṛśrāddhe mātṛpitāmahyau ca prapitāmahī | ātmaśrāddhe tu catvāra ātmā pitṛpitāmahau

Translation

In the śrāddha performed for the mother, one should offer rites for the maternal grandmother and the maternal great-grandmother as well. In the śrāddha performed for oneself, however, there are four recipients—oneself, one’s father, and one’s paternal grandfather—according to the prescribed line of offerings.

Word by Word

• मातृश्राद्धे: in the mother’s śrāddha
• मातृश्राद्धे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ-श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; मातृ + श्राद्ध)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘मातुः श्राद्धम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• मातृपितामह्यौ: the mother and the paternal grandmother
• मातृपितामह्यौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ-पितामही (प्रातिपदिक; मातृ + पितामही)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (माता च पितामही च); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

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

• प्रपितामही: great-grandmother
• प्रपितामही: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रपितामही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• आत्मश्राद्धे: in one’s own śrāddha
• आत्मश्राद्धे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्म-श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; आत्मन् + श्राद्ध)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘आत्मनः श्राद्धम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• तु: but; whereas
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पक्षान्तरे/विरोधे

• चत्वारः: four
• चत्वारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक (numeral)

• आत्मा: the self (the person)
• आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पितृपितामहौ: father and grandfather
• पितृपितामहौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ-पितामह (प्रातिपदिक; पितृ + पितामह)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (पिता च पितामहः च); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s prescribed dharma to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; this is dharma-vidhi on śrāddha lineages (mātṛ- and pitṛ-pakṣa) within the Kailāsa-saṃhitā’s ritual instruction.

Significance: Establishes correct adhikāra/recipient-line for śrāddha, supporting pitṛ-tarpaṇa and social-ritual order (dharma-sthiti).

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms that honoring one’s lineage through śrāddha sustains dharma and inner purification; in Shaiva understanding, such ordered duties steady the mind (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi), making the aspirant fit for devotion to Pati (Śiva) and liberation.

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

Śaiva ritual life integrates household duties with devotion—performing śrāddha according to rule is part of righteous living that supports steady bhakti; such discipline is considered complementary to Saguna worship of Śiva (including Liṅga-pūjā), not opposed to it.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is precise adherence to śrāddha procedure—offering to the correct ancestral recipients; as a Shaiva support practice, one may mentally dedicate the rite to Śiva (Pati) while maintaining purity, restraint, and remembrance of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) during the observance.