Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

शुभाऽशुभतरां योनिं चक्रवाकत्वमागताः । शुभे देशे शरद्वीपे सप्तैवासञ्जलौकसः

Transliteration

śubhā'śubhatarāṃ yoniṃ cakravākatvamāgatāḥ | śubhe deśe śaradvīpe saptaivāsañjalaukasaḥ

Translation

Entering a mixed destiny—partly auspicious yet more inauspicious—they attained birth as cakravāka birds. Indeed, seven of them became water-dwelling beings on Śaradvīpa, in an auspicious region.

Word by Word

• शुभा: auspicious
• शुभा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (योनिम् इति पदस्य विशेषण)

• अशुभतराम्: more inauspicious
• अशुभतराम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśubha (प्रातिपदिक) + tara (तर-प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; तुलनात्मक (comparative)

• योनिम्: womb, birth-state
• योनिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• चक्रवाकत्वम्: the state of being a cakravāka bird
• चक्रवाकत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakravāka (प्रातिपदिक) + tva (त्व-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; भाववाचक (abstract state)

• आगताः: attained, came to
• आगताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + gam (धातु) + āgata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तरि—‘have come/attained’

• शुभे: in auspicious
• शुभे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘देशे’ इति पदस्य विशेषण

• देशे: in a place
• देशे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• शरद्वीपे: on/in Śaradvīpa
• शरद्वीपे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarad (प्रातिपदिक) + dvīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘शरदः द्वीपः’); पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी, एकवचन; स्थाननाम

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचनार्थे (indeclinable-like numeral used adjectivally)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात

• असञ्जलौकसः: those whose dwelling is not in water (non-aquatic dwellers)
• असञ्जलौकसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a- (नञ्) + sañjala (प्रातिपदिक) + okas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास: ‘सञ्जलम् ओकः यस्य’ इति; नञ्-पूर्वक; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva Siddhanta principle that embodied birth (yoni) is shaped by accumulated karma: when merit and demerit are mixed, the soul (paśu) may fall into non-human embodiments, remaining bound by pāśa until purified by Shiva’s grace and right practice.

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

The verse underscores why Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-upasana) is prescribed: devotion, mantra, and righteous conduct refine karma and turn the soul away from degrading births toward liberation, where Shiva as Pati releases the paśu from pāśa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha, dedicated to Shiva, to purify mixed karmas and stabilize the mind toward dharma and moksha.