Shloka 55

पितृसर्ग-श्राद्धमाहात्म्य-प्रश्नः

Pitṛ-sarga and the Greatness of Śrāddha: The Inquiry

Devanagari script

पितृश्राद्धे क्रियां कश्चित्करिष्यति न संशयः । श्राद्धैराप्यायितस्सोमो लोकानाप्याययिष्यति

Transliteration

pitṛśrāddhe kriyāṃ kaścitkariṣyati na saṃśayaḥ | śrāddhairāpyāyitassomo lokānāpyāyayiṣyati

Translation

Dalam upacara śrāddha bagi para Pitṛ, seseorang pasti akan melaksanakan tata cara yang ditetapkan—tanpa ragu. Soma yang dipuaskan oleh persembahan śrāddha itu kelak akan menyejahterakan dan menyuburkan dunia-dunia.

Word by Word

• पितृश्राद्धे: in the ancestral śrāddha
• पितृश्राद्धे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ-श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; पितृ + श्राद्ध)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): पितॄणां श्राद्धम्

• क्रियाम्: rite; act
• क्रियाम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• कश्चित्: someone
• कश्चित्: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कश्चित् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक-सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

• करिष्यति: will perform
• करिष्यति: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Future/भविष्यत्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• न: not; no
• न: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negative particle)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• श्राद्धैः: by/with śrāddha offerings
• श्राद्धैः: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• आप्यायितः: nourished
• आप्यायितः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-√प्या (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग: ‘nourished/satiated’

• सोमः: Soma (Moon-god)
• सोमः: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• लोकान्: worlds; beings
• लोकान्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• आप्याययिष्यति: will nourish; will cause to thrive
• आप्याययिष्यति: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√प्या (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्यय (causative/प्रेरणार्थक) + लृट्-लकार (Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana discourse to the sages, within the Uma Samhita context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Somanātha

Sthala Purana: Soma (the Moon) is nourished through offerings; this resonates with the Somnāth tradition where Soma is restored/strengthened by worship of Śiva after decline, making Śiva the ultimate support behind lunar replenishment.

Significance: Connects śrāddha/tarpaṇa with cosmic replenishment (Soma → worlds). Pilgrimage to Somnātha is traditionally linked with restoration, purification, and dhārmic continuity.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs
• Soma

FAQs

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

It teaches that śrāddha is not merely social custom but a dharmic act that participates in cosmic reciprocity: offerings made with faith nourish Soma, and that replenished Soma sustains life and the worlds.

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

In Shaiva understanding, all dharmic rites ultimately function within Shiva’s governance as Pati (Lord) of the cosmos; honoring Pitṛs maintains ṛta/dharma, which supports a stable mind and life for Saguna Shiva worship, including Linga-pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Pitṛ-śrāddha with sincerity and proper observance; as a Shaiva complement, keep japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and maintain purity (e.g., bhasma/tripundra) while dedicating the merit to Shiva’s order and the welfare of beings.