Shloka 63

Gṛhapati’s Vow: Turning Grief into Mṛtyuñjaya–Mahākāla Sādhana (गृहपतेः प्रतिज्ञा—मृत्युंजय-महाकालजपः)

Devanagari script

अनाथस्याग्निसंस्कारं यः कुर्य्याच्छ्रद्धयान्वितः । अशक्तः प्रेरयेदन्यं सोग्निलोके महीयते

Transliteration

anāthasyāgnisaṃskāraṃ yaḥ kuryyācchraddhayānvitaḥ | aśaktaḥ prerayedanyaṃ sogniloke mahīyate

Translation

Whoever, endowed with faith, performs the fire-rites—cremation and the final sacramental obsequies—for one who has no protector, or, if unable, causes another to do so, is honored and exalted in the realm of Agni (Agni-loka). From the Śaiva standpoint, such compassionate dharma becomes an offering that pleases the Lord and supports the departed jīva’s onward journey.

Word by Word

• अनाथस्य: of an orphan/helpless person
• अनाथस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अग्निसंस्कारम्: fire-rite/funeral rite (with fire)
• अग्निसंस्कारम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्निसंस्कार (प्रातिपदिक) [अग्नि + संस्कार]
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Prescriptive action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• श्रद्धया: with faith
• श्रद्धया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अन्वितः: endowed (with)
• अन्वितः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक) (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त from anu+√इ)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (यः)

• अशक्तः: unable
• अशक्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषणम् (if unable)

• प्रेरयेत्: should urge/commission
• प्रेरयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Prescriptive action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+√ईर्/√इर् (धातु) (causative sense ‘to impel’)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• अन्यम्: another person
• अन्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अग्निलोके: in the world of Agni
• अग्निलोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्निलोक (प्रातिपदिक) [अग्नि + लोक]
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरणम्

• महीयते: is honored/glorified
• महीयते: Kriya (क्रिया/Result)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (is honored/becomes great)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; it extols compassionate performance of antyeṣṭi/agnisaṃskāra for the ‘anātha’ (unprotected deceased), promising honor in Agniloka—framed as dharma that aids the departed jīva’s onward passage.

Significance: Merit through compassion and social dharma; Siddhānta reading: such acts reduce demerit, support orderly transmigration, and invite Śiva’s favorable regard (anugraha) though liberation proper remains Śiva-dependent.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

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

It teaches that compassionate dharma—ensuring proper last rites for the unprotected—creates great puṇya; such selfless service becomes a sacred offering aligned with Shaiva values of grace and upliftment of the jīva.

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

While not a direct Linga-worship instruction, it reflects Saguna Shiva’s dharma: serving beings with faith is an act of devotion. In Shaiva Purana ethos, righteous service supports purification and draws Shiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical teaching is to perform or arrange antyeṣṭi (agnisaṃskāra) with śraddhā; as an inner practice, cultivate compassion and offer the act mentally to Lord Shiva as seva for the departed.