Shloka 50

कामशापानुग्रहः (Kāmaśāpānugraha) — “The Curse and Grace Concerning Kāma”

Devanagari script

सहस्राणां चतुःषष्टिरग्निष्वात्ताः प्रकीर्तिता । षडशीतिसहस्राणि तथा बर्हिषदो मुने

Transliteration

sahasrāṇāṃ catuḥṣaṣṭiragniṣvāttāḥ prakīrtitā | ṣaḍaśītisahasrāṇi tathā barhiṣado mune

Translation

Of the thousands, sixty-four are proclaimed as the Agniṣvātta Pitṛs; and likewise, O sage, eighty-six thousand are said to be the Barhiṣad Pitṛs.

Word by Word

• सहस्राणाम्: of thousands
• सहस्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; partitive/genitive (‘of thousands’)

• चतुःषष्टिः: sixty-four
• चतुःषष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुःषष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक (numeral)

• अग्निष्वात्ताः: the Agniṣvāttas
• अग्निष्वात्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि + स्वात्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; नाम (class of Pitṛs)

• प्रकीर्तिता: is proclaimed/declared
• प्रकीर्तिता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कीर्त् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि-क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agrees with implied संख्या/गणना; passive sense ‘is proclaimed’

• षडशीतिसहस्राणि: eighty-six thousand(s)
• षडशीतिसहस्राणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षडशीति + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक-समास (‘eighty-six thousands’)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; manner/connector (‘likewise/also’)

• बर्हिषदः: the Barhiṣads
• बर्हिषदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बर्हिषद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; नाम (class of Pitṛs)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Agniṣvātta Pitṛs
• Barhiṣad Pitṛs

FAQs

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

It situates cosmic order (dharma) by enumerating classes of Pitṛs, reminding devotees that ancestral realms and ritual duties exist within Shiva’s governed universe, while liberation ultimately depends on turning the mind toward Pati (Śiva) beyond all lineages.

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

By acknowledging Pitṛs and sacrificial lineages, the text frames worldly rites as supportive disciplines; in Shaiva Siddhānta, such duties are purified and fulfilled best when oriented to Saguna Śiva—Linga-worship—so karma becomes a means toward Shiva’s grace rather than mere ritualism.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points toward Pitṛ-related observances such as tarpaṇa and śrāddha performed with purity; a Shaiva takeaway is to accompany such rites with Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and remembrance of Śiva as the liberating Lord.