Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

देवकार्यादपि मुने पितृकार्य्यं विशिष्यते । पितृभक्तोऽसि विप्रर्षे तेन त्वमजरामरः

Transliteration

devakāryādapi mune pitṛkāryyaṃ viśiṣyate | pitṛbhakto'si viprarṣe tena tvamajarāmaraḥ

Translation

ໂອ ມຸນີ, ແມ່ນແຕ່ການຮັບໃຊ້ເທວະດາ ກໍຍັງສູ້ກິດຕໍ່ປິຕຣະ (ບັນພະບຸລຸດ) ບໍ່ໄດ້; ກິດຕໍ່ປິຕຣະນັ້ນຖືກຍົກຍ້ອງວ່າສູງກວ່າ. ເນື່ອງຈາກທ່ານເປັນຜູ້ມີພັກດີຕໍ່ປິຕຣະ, ໂອ ພຣາຫມະນະຜູ້ປະເສີດ, ດັ່ງນັ້ນທ່ານຈຶ່ງພົ້ນຈາກຄວາມແກ່ແລະຄວາມຕາຍ।

Word by Word

• देवकार्याद्: than divine duty
• देवकार्याद्: अपादान (तुलनाबिन्दु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; समासः—देवानां कार्यम् इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; 'from/than divine duty' (ablative of comparison)

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

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: सम्बोधन (address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• पितृकार्यम्: ancestral duty
• पितृकार्यम्: कर्ता (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ-कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—पितॄणां कार्यम् इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• विशिष्यते: excels/is superior
• विशिष्यते: क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-शिष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; 'is distinguished/excels'

• पितृभक्तः: devoted to the ancestors
• पितृभक्तः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पितृ-भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—पितृषु भक्तः इति सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः; 'devoted to ancestors'

• असि: are
• असि: क्रिया (copula)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; 'you are'

• विप्रर्षे: O brahmin-sage
• विप्रर्षे: सम्बोधन (address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र-ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; समासः—विप्रश्चासौ ऋषिश्च इति कर्मधारयः ('O brahmin-sage')

• तेन: therefore/by that
• तेन: हेतु/करण (instrument/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण/हेतु ('therefore/by that')

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: कर्ता (कर्ता/अधिकारिन्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'you'

• अजरामरः: ageless and deathless
• अजरामरः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-जरा-अमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—अजरश्च अमरश्च इति कर्मधारय-प्रायः (negated qualifiers); 'ageless and deathless'

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching in Umāsaṃhitā to the sages, emphasizing dharma that supports Shiva’s path through purity and gratitude)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames pitṛ-tarpaṇa/śrāddha as a dharmic purifier that supports eligibility (adhikāra) for Śiva’s grace; longevity/‘ajarāmara’ is read as both āyus and the mark of liberation (mukti-lakṣaṇa).

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs

FAQs

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

It teaches that honoring the Pitṛs is a powerful form of dharma that purifies bonds (pāśa) of obligation and karma; such purity supports the soul’s movement toward Shiva (Pati) and the state symbolized as “undecaying and deathless.”

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

In the Shiva Purana’s dharmic framework, Linga-worship is strengthened by right conduct; fulfilling Pitṛ-dharma removes impediments and makes one’s Shiva-bhakti steady, so worship becomes fruitful rather than merely ritualistic.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular Pitṛ-kārya such as tarpaṇa/śrāddha with sincerity and purity of intention; alongside Shaiva practice, one may maintain japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as a supportive discipline.