Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 39

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

तेषां तत्र विहंगानां चरतां धर्मचारिणाम् । सुवृत्तमभवत्तत्र तच्छृणुष्व महामुने

teṣāṃ tatra vihaṃgānāṃ caratāṃ dharmacāriṇām | suvṛttamabhavattatra tacchṛṇuṣva mahāmune

そこに住むその鳥たち—ダルマに従う者として行き交う彼ら—の間に、その地で吉祥にして模範となる行いの道が生じた。それを聞け、大いなる牟尼よ。

तेषाम्of them
तेषाम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन
तत्रthere
तत्र:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottatra (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb)
विहङ्गानाम्of the birds
विहङ्गानाम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootvihaṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन
चरताम्of those roaming
चरताम्:
Karta-sambandha (कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
TypeVerb
Rootcar (धातु) + carat (शतृ-प्रत्यय, कृदन्त)
Formवर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘those who are moving/roaming’
धर्म-चारिणाम्of the righteous practitioners
धर्म-चारिणाम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootdharma (प्रातिपदिक) + cārin (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुषसमास (उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘धर्मं चरति’); पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, बहुवचन
सुवृत्तम्good conduct
सुवृत्तम्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootsu (अव्यय) + vṛtta (प्रातिपदिक)
Formकर्मधारयसमास (‘सु-वृत्तम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन
अभवत्was, came to be
अभवत्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootbhū (धातु)
Formलङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
तत्रthere
तत्र:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottatra (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; देशवाचक
तत्that (account/story)
तत्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन
शृणुष्वlisten
शृणुष्व:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootśru (धातु)
Formलोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद
महामुनेO great sage
महामुने:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootmahā (प्रातिपदिक) + muni (प्रातिपदिक)
Formकर्मधारयसमास (‘महान् मुनिः’); पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Narrator (traditionally Suta Goswami addressing the sages)

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Role: nurturing

FAQs

It highlights that even ordinary beings, when aligned with dharma, naturally manifest auspicious conduct—an outer sign of inner purification that supports the soul’s movement toward Shiva (Pati) and liberation.

In Shaiva practice, devotion to Saguna Shiva (including Linga worship) is meant to refine conduct and character; this verse frames “suvṛtta” (noble behavior) as a fruit of dharmic living that makes worship effective and spiritually transformative.

The takeaway is disciplined dharmic conduct as daily sadhana—supporting practices like japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), wearing rudraksha, and applying tripuṇḍra with humility and restraint.