Shloka 47

पितृसर्ग-श्राद्धमाहात्म्य-प्रश्नः

Pitṛ-sarga and the Greatness of Śrāddha: The Inquiry

Devanagari script

पुत्रान्स्वान्परिपृच्छध्वं ततो ज्ञानमवाप्स्यथ । इत्युक्ता नष्टसंज्ञास्ते पुत्रान्पप्रच्छुरोजसा

Transliteration

putrānsvānparipṛcchadhvaṃ tato jñānamavāpsyatha | ityuktā naṣṭasaṃjñāste putrānpapracchurojasā

Translation

“Question your own sons thoroughly; then you will attain knowledge.” Thus instructed, those who had lost their composure questioned their sons with forceful urgency.

Word by Word

• पुत्रान्: sons
• पुत्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• स्वान्: one's own
• स्वान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण of पुत्रान्

• परिपृच्छध्वम्: ask (thoroughly)
• परिपृच्छध्वम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन (Plural), आत्मनेपद; उपसर्ग: परि-

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अव्ययीभाव-निष्पन्न/क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: from that/thereafter)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अवाप्स्यथ: you will obtain
• अवाप्स्यथ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद, उपसर्ग: अव-

• इति: thus
• इति: Vacana-parisamapti (वचन-परिसमाप्ति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरण-चिह्न (quotative particle)

• उक्ताः: having been told/addressed
• उक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• नष्टसंज्ञाः: those who had lost consciousness
• नष्टसंज्ञाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नष्ट-संज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक; नष्ट + संज्ञ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); बहुव्रीहि: नष्टा संज्ञा येषां ते

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पुत्रान्: sons
• पुत्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पप्रच्छुः: asked
• पप्रच्छुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• ओजसा: with vigor/forcefully
• ओजसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (instrumental of manner)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Uma Samhita account to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes that true jñāna arises through sincere inquiry (vicāra) and receiving clarity from a reliable source; in Shaiva understanding, such knowledge becomes a means for loosening pāśa (bondage) and turning the mind toward Pati (Śiva).

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

Right inquiry supports right worship: when devotees understand the purpose of Linga-upāsanā—purification, surrender, and Śiva’s grace—they move from mere external ritual to conscious Saguna devotion that can culminate in inner realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is svādhyāya and satsanga: ask, listen, and reflect before worship—then perform japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with focused mind, letting knowledge guide practice.