Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

मार्कण्डेय उवाच । एवमुक्त्वाऽऽशु देवेशो देवानामपि दुर्लभम् । चक्षुर्दत्त्वा सविज्ञानं जगाम यौगिकीं गतिम्

Transliteration

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca | evamuktvā''śu deveśo devānāmapi durlabham | cakṣurdattvā savijñānaṃ jagāma yaugikīṃ gatim

Translation

ಮಾರ್ಕಂಡೇಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು— ಹೀಗೆ ಹೇಳಿ ದೇವೇಶ್ವರನು ದೇವರಿಗೂ ದುರ್ಲಭವಾದ ದಿವ್ಯಚಕ್ಷುವನ್ನೂ, ಸತ್ಯ ಅಂತರ್ದೃಷ್ಟಿಯನ್ನೂ ತ್ವರಿತವಾಗಿ ದಯಪಾಲಿಸಿ; ನಂತರ ಯೋಗಮಯ ಪರಮಸ್ಥಿತಿಗೆ ಪ್ರವೇಶಿಸಿ ತೆರಳಿದನು.

Word by Word

• मार्कण्डेयः: Mārkaṇḍeya
• मार्कण्डेयः: कर्ता (वक्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्कण्डेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (उक्ति-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; 'said'

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक ('thus')

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: पूर्वकाल (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); 'having said'

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: क्रियाविशेषण (manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/शीघ्रता-वाचक ('quickly')

• देवेशः: the Lord of the gods
• देवेशः: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—देवानाम् ईशः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; 'Lord of the gods'

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; 'of the gods'

• अपि: even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान ('even')

• दुर्लभम्: hard to obtain
• दुर्लभम्: कर्म (कर्मकारक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्-लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—दुर्लभम् (उपसर्ग-निष्पन्न विशेषण); 'hard to obtain'

• चक्षुः: (divine) sight/eye
• चक्षुः: कर्म (कर्मकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'eye/vision'

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: पूर्वकाल (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); 'having given'

• सविज्ञानम्: together with knowledge
• सविज्ञानम्: विशेषण (qualifier of चक्षुः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स- विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—सह विज्ञानम् इति अव्ययीभावः (with knowledge/with understanding)

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; 'went'

• यौगिकीम्: yogic
• यौगिकीम्: कर्म-विशेषण (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यौगिकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'yogic' (qualifying गति)

• गतिम्: state/attainment
• गतिम्: कर्म (कर्मकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'state/way/attainment'

Speaker

Markandeya

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models Śiva’s anugraha as bestowal of divya-cakṣus and vijñāna—spiritual ‘seeing’ that cuts pāśa (bondage) and stabilizes the paśu in right knowledge.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Yogic samādhi/ati-krānti (departure into yogic state)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Pati (the Lord) who grants both higher perception (divya-cakṣus) and vijñāna (transformative realization), showing that liberation arises by His grace coupled with awakened discernment.

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

Saguna worship of Śiva—often through the Liṅga—purifies the devotee’s mind so that Śiva’s grace can confer ‘true seeing.’ The verse presents Śiva as accessible in form yet leading the seeker beyond form into yogic transcendence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna on Śiva with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), seeking ‘inner vision’ (viveka) rather than mere miracles—supported by daily purity practices like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and steady meditation.