Shloka 8

पितृसर्ग-श्राद्धमाहात्म्य-प्रश्नः

Pitṛ-sarga and the Greatness of Śrāddha: The Inquiry

Devanagari script

गीतं सनत्कुमारेण मार्कण्डेय धीमते । तत्तेऽहं संप्रवक्ष्यामि सर्वकामफलपदम्

Transliteration

gītaṃ sanatkumāreṇa mārkaṇḍeya dhīmate | tatte'haṃ saṃpravakṣyāmi sarvakāmaphalapadam

Translation

This teaching/hymn was sung by Sanatkumāra for the wise sage Mārkaṇḍeya. I shall now declare it to you—a discourse that bestows the fruits of all rightful desires, leading the seeker toward auspicious fulfillment in Śiva’s path.

Word by Word

• गीतम्: (that which was) sung / the song
• गीतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गै (धातु) → गीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृत्-क्त (past passive participle used as noun)

• सनत्कुमारेण: by Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमारेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत्कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (instrumental sg); समास: सनत् + कुमार (कर्मधारय/नामसमास)

• मार्कण्डेय: O Mārkaṇḍeya
• मार्कण्डेय: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्कण्डेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन (vocative sg)

• धीमते: to the wise (one)
• धीमते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (dative sg); सम्बोधनार्थे दत्तिः/आदरार्थ (to the wise; used in address)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (neut acc sg)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (dative sg)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (nom sg)

• संप्रवक्ष्यामि: will explain/tell fully
• संप्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + प्र + सम्
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (1st person sg)

• सर्वकामफलपदम्: the giver/means of all desired fruits
• सर्वकामफलपदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + काम + फल + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषां कामानां फलस्य पदम् = the means/abode of the fruit of all desires)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a sthala-purāṇa passage; it functions as a narrative colophon introducing an authoritative transmission (Sanatkumāra → Mārkaṇḍeya → present reciter) of a desire-fulfilling Śaiva upadeśa/stuti.

Significance: Frames the teaching as sarva-kāma-phala-prada (granting legitimate aims) and implicitly as a means toward Śiva’s auspicious path (śivamārga), i.e., dharmic prosperity aligned with devotion.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumara
• Markandeya

FAQs

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

It frames the authority and potency of the upcoming teaching: a Śaiva discourse transmitted through a realized lineage (Sanatkumāra → Mārkaṇḍeya) and now shared for the listener’s welfare, promising auspicious results when received with devotion and right intent.

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

By presenting a ‘gīta’ that grants fruits, the text signals Śiva-kathā as a form of worship: hearing and recitation become Saguna upāsanā that ripens devotion, purifies the bound soul (paśu), and turns desires toward Śiva as Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Śravaṇa (devout listening) and pāṭha (recitation) of Śiva-teachings are implied as a practice; undertaken with purity and faith, they function like mantra-upāsanā—supporting japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and inner steadiness.