Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

तथा तु पितृकार्य्यार्थं कृतं श्राद्धं व्यवस्थितैः । तदा ज्ञानं च जातिं च क्रमात्प्राप्तं गुणोत्तरम्

Transliteration

tathā tu pitṛkāryyārthaṃ kṛtaṃ śrāddhaṃ vyavasthitaiḥ | tadā jñānaṃ ca jātiṃ ca kramātprāptaṃ guṇottaram

Translation

Likewise, for the sake of the rites due to the Pitṛs, the disciplined ones duly performed the śrāddha. Thereupon, in proper sequence, they attained higher excellence of qualities—gaining true knowledge and an elevated state of birth.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण ('thus/likewise')

• तु: indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• पितृकार्य्यार्थम्: for the purpose of ancestral rites
• पितृकार्य्यार्थम्: प्रयोजन (हेतु/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ-कार्य-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—(पितॄणां कार्यम्) इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः + तस्य अर्थः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; प्रयोजनार्थे ('for the purpose of ancestral duty')

• कृतम्: performed
• कृतम्: विशेषण (predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'done/performed'

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: कर्म (कर्मकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'śrāddha rite'

• व्यवस्थितैः: by the well-ordered (persons)
• व्यवस्थितैः: करण/सहकारी (करणकारक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-अव-स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP) 'well-arranged/steadfast'; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण/सहकार्यार्थे ('by/with the well-disciplined')

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण ('then')

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: कर्म (कर्मकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• जातिम्: birth/status
• जातिम्: कर्म (कर्मकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'birth/caste/species'

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• क्रमात्: gradually/in sequence
• क्रमात्: क्रियाविशेषण (manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे ('in due order/gradually')

• प्राप्तम्: attained
• प्राप्तम्: विशेषण (predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP) 'obtained/attained'; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (ज्ञानं जातिं च) इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषणम्

• गुणोत्तरम्: superior in qualities
• गुणोत्तरम्: विशेषण (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण-उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—गुणेभ्यः उत्तरम्/श्रेष्ठम् इति तत्पुरुषः; 'superior in qualities'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that śrāddha, when done with disciplined dharma, refines one’s guṇas and becomes a stepping-stone toward jñāna—supporting a gradual ascent in spiritual maturity and destiny.

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

In Shaiva practice, honoring pitṛs through prescribed rites is part of dharmic purification; such purity supports steadier devotion to Saguna Shiva and prepares the mind for deeper contemplation of Shiva as Pati, the liberator.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse directly emphasizes properly performed śrāddha with disciplined conduct; as a Shaiva takeaway, pair righteous ritual life with daily Shiva-smaraṇa (remembrance) and mantra-japa to cultivate higher guṇas and jñāna.