Shloka 31
पितृसर्ग-श्राद्धमाहात्म्य-प्रश्नः
Pitṛ-sarga and the Greatness of Śrāddha: The Inquiry
शंतनुरुवाच । शृणु तात प्रवक्ष्यामि प्रश्नं तेऽहं यथार्थतः । पितृकल्पं च निखिलं मार्कण्डेयेन मे श्रुतम्
śaṃtanuruvāca | śṛṇu tāta pravakṣyāmi praśnaṃ te'haṃ yathārthataḥ | pitṛkalpaṃ ca nikhilaṃ mārkaṇḍeyena me śrutam
សន្តនុបានទូលថា៖ «ស្តាប់ណា កូនជាទីស្រឡាញ់; ខ្ញុំនឹងបញ្ជាក់សំណួររបស់ខ្ញុំឲ្យអ្នកត្រឹមត្រូវតាមពិត។ ពីព្រះឥសីមារកណ្ឌេយ្យ ខ្ញុំបានស្តាប់ពេញលេញអំពីពិធីបរិសុទ្ធទាំងមូល ស្តីពីបិត្រឹ (ពិធីបូជាបុព្វបុរស)»។
King Śaṃtanu
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse introduces pitṛ-kalpa transmission (ancestral rite procedure) heard from sage Mārkaṇḍeya.
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It establishes a dharmic foundation: right inquiry (yathārthataḥ) and proper tradition (hearing from a realized sage) are essential before performing rites—so that actions become purifying and supportive of the soul’s onward journey under Śiva’s supreme governance.
Though it speaks of Pitṛ-rites, the Uma Saṃhitā frames dharma as ultimately upheld by Pati (Śiva). Proper rites performed with Śiva-bhakti and right understanding become offerings within Saguna worship, aligning household duties with devotion rather than mere formality.
The verse suggests disciplined listening to authoritative teaching before undertaking Pitṛ-kalpa; as a Shaiva takeaway, one may begin such duties with Śiva-smaraṇa and japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to sanctify intention, even though bhasma or rudrākṣa are not explicitly mentioned here.