Shloka 44

अत्रीश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनम् (Atrīśvara-māhātmya-varṇanam) — “Account of the Greatness of Atrīśvara”

Devanagari script

तथा दानैर्न मे तुष्टिस्तीर्थस्नानैस्तथा च वै । यज्ञैस्तथाथ वा योगैर्यथा पातिव्रतेन च

Transliteration

tathā dānairna me tuṣṭistīrthasnānaistathā ca vai | yajñaistathātha vā yogairyathā pātivratena ca

Translation

“I am not so pleased by gifts (charity), nor by bathing at sacred tīrthas, nor by sacrifices, nor even by yogic disciplines, as I am by the steadfast chastity and devoted fidelity (pātivratya) of a virtuous wife.”

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb)

• दानैः: by gifts/charity
• दानैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• मे: of me / my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अधिकार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (Genitive singular)

• तुष्टिः: satisfaction
• तुष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tuṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• तीर्थस्नानैः: by bathing at pilgrimage places
• तीर्थस्नानैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha + snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: तीर्थस्य स्नानम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• यज्ञैः: by sacrifices
• यज्ञैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• अथ: then/also
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (discourse particle: then/also)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• योगैः: by yogic practices
• योगैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• यथा: as, just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (comparative particle: as/like)

• पातिव्रतेन: by wifely fidelity (pativrata-dharma)
• पातिव्रतेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātivratya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching the superior power of dharmic devotion over mere ritual merit)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse ranks inner dharmic devotion above external merit-making acts, teaching that Shiva is most moved by sincere, steadfast virtue (niṣkāma-bhāva and dharma), not by ritual quantity.

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

In Linga/Jyotirlinga worship, pilgrimage, yajña, and yoga are supportive, but the verse emphasizes that Saguna Shiva responds most to purity of heart and faithful devotion—making worship effective through bhakti rather than mere performance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to prioritize dharmic vows and devoted living alongside worship—supporting practices like daily Shiva-pūjā with mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined conduct, rather than relying only on tīrtha-snāna or yajñas.