Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

पुरुषान्तरितं श्रुत्वा ततो योगमवाप्स्यथ । इत्युक्त्वा स तु मौनोभूद्विहंगस्सुमना बुधः

Transliteration

puruṣāntaritaṃ śrutvā tato yogamavāpsyatha | ityuktvā sa tu maunobhūdvihaṃgassumanā budhaḥ

Translation

“Having heard the teaching concerning the indwelling Person (the Inner Self), you shall thereafter attain Yoga.” Saying so, that wise sage—serene like a bird—fell silent, his mind composed.

Word by Word

• पुरुष-अन्तरितम्: (that which is) concealed/mediated by persons
• पुरुष-अन्तरितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तरित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √अन्तर्/अन्तरि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘separated/hidden by men’ or ‘intervened by persons’ (qualifying implied discourse/teaching)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund): ‘having heard’

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तदर्थक (ablatival adverb): ‘then/from that’

• योगम्: yoga
• योगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अवाप्स्यथ: you (all) will attain
• अवाप्स्यथ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-आप् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple future), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, इत्यादि-उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) with prefix उत्-
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive): ‘having said’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• मौनः: silent
• मौनः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मौन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective

• अभूत्: became/was
• अभूत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• विहङ्गः: the bird
• विहङ्गः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विहङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to सः

• सुमनाः: good-minded
• सुमनाः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/प्रत्ययार्थ) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘one whose mind is good’

• बुधः: the wise one
• बुधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition

Speaker

A wise sage-teacher (narrative voice within Umāsaṃhitā; ultimately transmitted in the Purāṇic frame by Sūta to the sages)

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 teaches that śravaṇa (hearing the truth) about the inner Puruṣa/Ātman is the doorway to Yoga—inner discipline culminating in liberation under the grace of Pati (Śiva) in Shaiva Siddhānta.

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

Linga/Saguna worship purifies the mind and steadies devotion; this verse points to the next maturation—turning inward to recognize the indwelling reality that Saguna worship reveals, leading the devotee toward yogic absorption.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is disciplined listening to Shaiva teachings followed by silent meditation (mauna) and contemplation on the Inner Self—supported by japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a stabilizing practice.