Shloka 10

Pitṛbhakti and Śrāddha: The Classification of Pitṛs and the Superiority of Pitṛ-kārya

Devanagari script

शृणु भीष्म पुरा भूयो भारद्वाजात्मजा द्विजाः । योगधर्ममनुप्राप्य भ्रष्टा दुश्चरितेन वै

Transliteration

śṛṇu bhīṣma purā bhūyo bhāradvājātmajā dvijāḥ | yogadharmamanuprāpya bhraṣṭā duścaritena vai

Translation

Listen, O Bhīṣma: long ago, the twice-born sons of Bharadvāja attained the discipline of yoga; yet, through evil conduct indeed, they fell away from that yogic path.

Word by Word

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• भीष्म: O Bhīṣma
• भीष्म: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly/once
• पुरा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• भूयः: again/more
• भूयः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरर्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: again/more)

• भारद्वाज-आत्मजाः: sons of Bhāradvāja
• भारद्वाज-आत्मजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारद्वाज (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘of Bhāradvāja’ + ‘sons’

• द्विजाः: Brahmins (twice-born)
• द्विजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), बहुवचन; apposition to subject

• योग-धर्मम्: the discipline/dharma of yoga
• योग-धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (determinative): ‘dharma of yoga / yogic discipline’

• अनुप्राप्य: having attained
• अनुप्राप्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having attained/obtained’; अव्ययभाव (indeclinable participial)

• भ्रष्टाः: fallen/deviated
• भ्रष्टाः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √भ्रंश्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), बहुवचन; predicate adjective to subject

• दुश्चरितेन: by/through evil conduct
• दुश्चरितेन: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष् (उपसर्ग/प्रत्ययार्थ) + चरित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘bad conduct’

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निश्चयार्थक निपात (particle of emphasis/indeed)

Speaker

Sage (narrator) addressing Bhishma (traditionally understood as a Purana-style narration within Umāsaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Warns that yogic attainment without ethical restraint can be lost; in Siddhānta terms, mala and pāśa reassert through adharma, causing ‘concealment’ (tirodhāna) of realized clarity.

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Bharadvaja

FAQs

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

It teaches that yogic attainment is not secured by technique alone; without śīla (ethical conduct) and devotion to Pati (Śiva), the pashu-mind can fall back into bondage (pāśa).

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is grounded in purity and restraint; this verse warns that abandoning right conduct undermines both meditation on Saguna Shiva and the inner steadiness needed for Linga-upāsanā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain yama-niyama-like discipline—truthfulness, continence, non-injury, and steady japa/meditation on Shiva (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—so that yoga does not collapse due to misconduct.