Shloka 38

प्रणवार्थ-शिवतत्त्व-निर्णयः

The Determination of Śiva as the Meaning of Praṇava

Devanagari script

ऋषिश्राद्धे तु सम्प्रोक्ता देवक्षेत्रमनुष्यजाः । देवश्राद्धे तु वसुरुद्रादित्यास्सम्प्रकीर्त्तिताः

Transliteration

ṛṣiśrāddhe tu samproktā devakṣetramanuṣyajāḥ | devaśrāddhe tu vasurudrādityāssamprakīrttitāḥ

Translation

ഋഷി-ശ്രാദ്ധത്തിൽ ഗ്രഹീതാക്കളായി ദേവഗണം, പുണ്യക്ഷേത്ര/വംശജന്മമുള്ളവർ, കൂടാതെ മനുഷ്യർ എന്നും പ്രസ്താവിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു. എന്നാൽ ദേവ-ശ്രാദ്ധത്തിൽ വസുക്കൾ, രുദ്രന്മാർ, ആദിത്യന്മാർ—ഇവരെയാണ് പ്രത്യേകമായി കീർത്തിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്.

Word by Word

• ऋषि-श्राद्धे: in the ṛṣi-śrāddha (rite for sages)
• ऋषि-श्राद्धे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक) + श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ṛṣīṇām śrāddhe)

• तु: indeed; but
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• सम्प्रोक्ताः: are declared
• सम्प्रोक्ताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-वच् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन

• देव-क्षेत्र-मनुष्य-जाः: those born as gods, in holy places, and as humans
• देव-क्षेत्र-मनुष्य-जाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मनुष्य (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (deva-kṣetra-manuṣya-jāḥ = those born as gods, in sacred fields, and as humans)

• देव-श्राद्धे: in the deva-śrāddha
• देव-श्राद्धे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• वसु-रुद्र-आदित्याः: the Vasus, Rudras, and Ādityas
• वसु-रुद्र-आदित्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु (प्रातिपदिक) + रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (Vasus, Rudras, Ādityas)

• सम्प्रकीर्तिताः: are proclaimed
• सम्प्रकीर्तिताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Clarifies ritual cosmology: different recipient-classes (ṛṣi vs deva) mirror graded ontological orders; supports disciplined dharma that gradually loosens pāśa (bondage) through right action.

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Rudras
• Vasus
• Adityas

FAQs

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

It clarifies that śrāddha is not a vague offering but a precisely directed rite: intention (saṅkalpa) and the correct class of recipients determine its spiritual efficacy, aligning ritual action with dharma.

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

By naming the Rudras among the recipients of deva-śrāddha, the verse situates Vedic divine orders within Śaiva theology—honoring Rudra-tattva supports Saguna devotion that ultimately leads the devotee toward Shiva as Pati, the supreme Lord beyond all classes.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform śrāddha with a clear saṅkalpa distinguishing ṛṣi-śrāddha from deva-śrāddha; as a Śaiva support-practice, accompany the rite with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to steady intention and devotion.