Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

पितृवर्ती तु यस्तेषां नित्यं श्राद्धाह्निको द्विजः । स सर्वानब्रवीत्कोपात्पितृभक्तिसमन्वितः

Transliteration

pitṛvartī tu yasteṣāṃ nityaṃ śrāddhāhniko dvijaḥ | sa sarvānabravītkopātpitṛbhaktisamanvitaḥ

Translation

Namun di antara mereka ada seorang dvija yang setia pada jalan para Pitṛ, yang senantiasa melaksanakan āhnika harian dan śrāddha. Ia, dipenuhi bhakti kepada Pitṛ, menegur mereka semua dengan murka.

Word by Word

पितृवर्तीdevoted to/abiding by the Pitṛs

तुbut/indeed

यःwho

तेषाम्of them

नित्यम्always

श्राद्धाह्निकःone who performs the śrāddha daily rite

द्विजःa Brahmin (twice-born)

सःhe

सर्वान्all (of them)

अब्रवीत्said/spoke

कोपात्out of anger

पितृभक्तिसमन्वितःendowed with devotion to the Pitṛs

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

Pitrs

FAQs

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

It highlights dharma rooted in gratitude: honoring the Pitṛs through regular śrāddha and daily duties is presented as a form of disciplined devotion, which supports inner purity and steadiness on the Shaiva path.

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

In Shaiva tradition, orderly observance of dharma—including Pitṛ offerings—stabilizes the householder’s life so that Saguna Shiva worship (such as Linga-pūjā) is performed with purity, faith, and freedom from neglect of obligations.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular performance of āhnika (daily rites) and śrāddha is emphasized; as a Shaiva takeaway, one may pair such duties with daily remembrance of Shiva through the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to keep devotion steady.