Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

निवृत्तिनिर्वृताश्चैव शकुना नामतः स्मृताः । ते ब्रह्मचारिणस्सर्वे शकुना धर्मधारिणः

Transliteration

nivṛttinirvṛtāścaiva śakunā nāmataḥ smṛtāḥ | te brahmacāriṇassarve śakunā dharmadhāriṇaḥ

Translation

They are remembered by name as the Śakunās—those established in nivṛtti, withdrawal from the world, and in nirvṛti, inner contentment. All of them are brahmacārins, celibate keepers of sacred discipline, and the Śakunās stand firm as uphold­ers of dharma.

Word by Word

• निवृत्तिनिर्वृताः: withdrawn and contented
• निवृत्तिनिर्वृताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निवृत्ति-निर्वृत (प्रातिपदिक; निर्वृत < निर्+√वृत् (धातु) क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (निवृत्तयश्च निर्वृताश्च)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphatic)

• शकुनाः: Śakunas (a group/name)
• शकुनाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• नामतः: by name
• नामतः: Hetu/Prakara (हेतु/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नामतः (अव्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘by name/as to name’

• स्मृताः: are called/are known
• स्मृताः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृत (प्रातिपदिक; स्मृत < √स्मृ (धातु) क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त) कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थे; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘are called/are remembered’

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

• ब्रह्मचारिणः: celibate students/ascetics
• ब्रह्मचारिणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म-चारिन् (प्रातिपदिक; चारिन् < √चर् (धातु) णिनि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणि चारिणः)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• शकुनाः: Śakunas
• शकुनाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; पुनरुक्त-नाम

• धर्मधारिणः: upholders of dharma
• धर्मधारिणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म-धारिन् (प्रातिपदिक; धारिन् < √धृ (धातु) णिनि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It praises a Shaiva ideal of liberation-oriented life: nivṛtti (turning away from binding desires) supported by nirvṛti (inner peace), expressed through brahmacarya and unwavering dharma—qualities that purify the pashu (bound soul) and orient it toward Pati (Shiva).

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is repeatedly linked with inner restraint and purity; this verse frames the right inner posture—withdrawal, contentment, and dharmic conduct—by which devotion to Saguna Shiva (as the worshipped Lord) becomes steady and transformative.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is disciplined brahmacarya and nivṛtti-based sadhana: regular japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a restrained life, cultivating inner contentment rather than sense-driven activity.