Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

जातिस्मरास्सुसंवृद्धास्सप्तैव ब्रह्मचारिणः । स्थिता एकत्र सद्धर्मा विकाररहितास्सदा

Transliteration

jātismarāssusaṃvṛddhāssaptaiva brahmacāriṇaḥ | sthitā ekatra saddharmā vikārarahitāssadā

Translation

Seven celibate ascetics—endowed with memory of former births and well matured in discipline—dwelt together in one place, ever established in true dharma and always free from inner disturbance and change.

Word by Word

• जातिस्मराः: remembering (their) past births
• जातिस्मराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जाति-स्मर (प्रातिपदिक; स्मर < √स्मृ (धातु) अच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जातिं स्मरन्ति इति)

• सुसंवृद्धाः: well-grown/well-developed
• सुसंवृद्धाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-संवृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; संवृद्ध < सम्+√वृध् (धातु) क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; उपपद-समास (सु + संवृद्ध)

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-शब्द; यहाँ विशेषण (ब्रह्मचारिणः)

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

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

• स्थिताः: remained/stood
• स्थिताः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्थित (प्रातिपदिक; स्थित < √स्था (धातु) क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त) कर्मणि/भावे; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘were stationed/remained’

• एकत्र: in one place/together
• एकत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• सद्धर्माः: of good conduct/righteous
• सद्धर्माः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्-धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (सन्तः धर्माः/सद्धर्माः = possessing good dharma)

• विकाररहिताः: free from change/defect
• विकाररहिताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकार-रहित (प्रातिपदिक; रहित < √हा (धातु) क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It presents the Shaiva ideal of yogic maturity: remembrance of prior births, firm brahmacarya, and steadiness in saddharma—signs of a mind becoming fit for Shiva-realization (Pati) by loosening the bonds (pāśa) that agitate the soul (paśu).

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

Such vikāra-rahita discipline supports steady Saguna Shiva/Linga worship—japa, dhyāna, and pūjā—because a stable, pure mind can hold the form and mantra of Shiva without distraction, leading toward inner recognition of Shiva beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is brahmacarya with daily mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and meditation that reduces mental vikāras; this can be paired with traditional Shaiva supports like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrāksha where appropriate.