Shloka 3
पितृसर्ग-श्राद्धमाहात्म्य-प्रश्नः
Pitṛ-sarga and the Greatness of Śrāddha: The Inquiry
त्वया प्रोक्तः श्राद्धदेवस्सूर्य्यः सद्वंशवर्द्धनः । संशयस्तत्र मे जातस्तं ब्रवीमि त्वदग्रतः
tvayā proktaḥ śrāddhadevassūryyaḥ sadvaṃśavarddhanaḥ | saṃśayastatra me jātastaṃ bravīmi tvadagrataḥ
Declaraste que Sūrya, a divindade que preside aos ritos de śrāddha, faz crescer e sustenta a nobre linhagem. Contudo, sobre isso nasceu em mim uma dúvida; eu a exponho diante de ti.
Parvati
Tattva Level: pashu
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse models a dharmic approach to spiritual learning: even after hearing an authoritative teaching, the seeker raises sincere doubt and seeks clarification, so that ritual duty (śrāddha) is aligned with right understanding and ultimately supports inner purification on the Shaiva path.
In the Umāsaṃhitā’s dialogic teaching style, Parvati’s question prepares the ground for Shiva to explain how subsidiary deities and rites function under the sovereignty of Pati (Śiva). Such clarification helps the devotee integrate śrāddha and worldly dharma with Saguna Shiva-bhakti without confusion about ultimate dependence.
The practical takeaway is to perform śrāddha and related pitṛ-tarpaṇa with correct intention and understanding, seeking guidance from scripture and guru; the verse itself emphasizes inquiry (vicāra) before adopting or interpreting ritual claims.