Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

अस्माकं ज्ञानसंयोगस्सर्वेषां योगसाधनम् । इदं च कार्यं संरब्धं श्लोकमेकमुदाहृतम्

Transliteration

asmākaṃ jñānasaṃyogassarveṣāṃ yogasādhanam | idaṃ ca kāryaṃ saṃrabdhaṃ ślokamekamudāhṛtam

Translation

“Our union with true knowledge is the means of yogic attainment for all. And with this purpose firmly undertaken, a single verse has been declared.”

Word by Word

• अस्माकम्: our/of us
• अस्माकम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन; pronoun ‘of us/our’

• ज्ञान-संयोगः: the union with knowledge
• ज्ञान-संयोगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + संयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘connection/union with knowledge’

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘of all’

• योग-साधनम्: the means/practice of yoga
• योग-साधनम्: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘means/practice of yoga’

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here as demonstrative for following noun

• च: and
• च: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• कार्यम्: the task
• कार्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √कृ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘task/thing to be done’

• संरब्धम्: undertaken/begun
• संरब्धम्: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सं-रभ् (धातु) → संरब्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; past participle used adjectivally: ‘undertaken/commenced’

• श्लोकम्: a verse
• श्लोकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; numeral adjective qualifying श्लोकम्

• उदाहृतम्: (has been) uttered/quoted
• उदाहृतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-आ-हृ (धातु) → उदाहृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicate: ‘has been uttered/quoted’

Speaker

Lord Shiva (instructing Devi/assembly within the Umāsaṃhitā philosophical discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It asserts that genuine realization (jñāna) is not separate from yoga: when consciousness unites with right knowledge under Shiva’s grace, it becomes the universal means to attain liberation.

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

In Shaiva Siddhanta, Saguna worship (Linga, mantra, pūjā) purifies the paśu (soul) and prepares it for jñāna; this verse highlights the culmination—inner union with knowledge—toward which such worship is directed.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A focused, resolute sādhanā: steady meditation supported by Shiva-oriented disciplines such as japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and contemplative inquiry into the Self under devotion to Shiva.