Shloka 1

पितृसर्ग-श्राद्धमाहात्म्य-प्रश्नः

Pitṛ-sarga and the Greatness of Śrāddha: The Inquiry

Devanagari script

व्यास उवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य श्राद्धदेवः सूर्यान्वयमनुत्तमम् । पर्य्यपृच्छन्मुनिश्रेष्ठश्शौनकस्सूतमादरात्

Transliteration

vyāsa uvāca | ityākarṇya śrāddhadevaḥ sūryānvayamanuttamam | paryyapṛcchanmuniśreṣṭhaśśaunakassūtamādarāt

Translation

Vyāsa disse: Tendo assim ouvido a linhagem incomparável do Sol, o mais eminente dos sábios, Śaunaka—também chamado Śrāddhadeva—interpelou Sūta com reverente respeito.

Word by Word

• व्यासः: Vyāsa
• व्यासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्तिसूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + कर्ण् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having heard’

• श्राद्धदेवः: Śrāddhadeva (a name)
• श्राद्धदेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्धदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (श्राद्धस्य देवः)

• सूर्य-अन्वयम्: the lineage of the Sun
• सूर्य-अन्वयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सूर्यस्य अन्वयः)

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed, excellent
• अनुत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘सूर्यान्वयम्’)

• परि-अपृच्छत्: asked
• परि-अपृच्छत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मुनि-श्रेष्ठः: the best of sages
• मुनि-श्रेष्ठः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मुनीनां श्रेष्ठः)

• शौनकः: Śaunaka
• शौनकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘मुनिश्रेष्ठः’ इत्यस्य विशेष्य/समनाधिकरण

• सूतम्: Sūta
• सूतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आदरात्: out of respect
• आदरात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ/कारणे (cause)

Speaker

Vyasa

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa
• Shaunaka
• Suta
• Surya

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva path of śravaṇa (reverent listening) followed by praśna (humble inquiry), a disciplined way to receive liberating knowledge that turns the mind toward Pati (Lord Shiva) and away from bondage.

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

Though the verse is narrative, it sets the proper devotional method: hearing sacred lineage and teachings from an authentic narrator (Sūta) with reverence—an attitude essential for fruitful Saguna Shiva worship, including Linga-upāsanā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is Purāṇa-śravaṇa with श्रद्धा (faith) and respectful questioning; it may be paired with simple Shaiva observances like chanting the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) before listening.