Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

यद्यस्ति सुकृतं किंचित्तपो वा नियमोऽपि वा । खिन्नोहमुपवासेन तपसा निश्चलेन च

Transliteration

yadyasti sukṛtaṃ kiṃcittapo vā niyamo'pi vā | khinnohamupavāsena tapasā niścalena ca

Translation

माझ्यात जर किंचित् पुण्य असेल—सत्कर्माने, तपाने किंवा नियमपालनाने—तरीही उपवासाने व अचल तपश्चर्येने मी अत्यंत खिन्न झालो आहे।

Word by Word

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, शर्तसूचक (conditional particle)

• अस्ति: there is
• अस्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (सत्तायाम्/धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सुकृतम्: merit; good deed
• सुकृतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• किंचित्: some; a little
• किंचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किंचित् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अनिश्चित-प्रमाणवाचक सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सुकृतम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive particle)

• नियमः: observance; restraint
• नियमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुँलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक

• खिन्नः: weary; distressed
• खिन्नः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खिन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, पुँलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अहम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उपवासेन: by fasting
• उपवासेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुँलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निश्चलेन: steadfast; unmoving
• निश्चलेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निश्चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तपसा इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

Speaker

Parvati (Umā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga episode; the verse belongs to Umā’s tapas narrative, emphasizing the strain of upavāsa and niścala-tapas undertaken for Śiva.

Significance: Models tapas and niyama as preparatory disciplines; in Śaiva Siddhānta terms, it reflects the soul’s effort under mala and māyā before Śiva’s anugraha becomes manifest.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights that personal merit (sukṛta), vows (niyama), and austerity (tapas) can purify, yet severe bodily practices alone may exhaust the seeker; in Shaiva Siddhanta, liberation ultimately ripens through Shiva’s grace (anugraha) when devotion and right intention mature.

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

The verse reflects a devotee’s inner state during intense sādhana aimed at attaining Shiva; Linga/Saguna worship emphasizes steady devotion with mantra and offering, not merely self-mortification—directing effort toward Shiva as Pati, the giver of grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Moderate vrata and upavāsa may be undertaken, but the implied takeaway is to pair discipline with Shiva-bhakti—such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and focused meditation—rather than relying only on rigid, exhausting austerity.