Shloka 28

Devanagari script

ये भार्य्यापुत्रमित्राणि बालवृद्धकृशातुरान् । भृत्यानतिथिबंधूंश्च त्यक्त्वाश्नंति बुभुक्षितान्

Transliteration

ye bhāryyāputramitrāṇi bālavṛddhakṛśāturān | bhṛtyānatithibaṃdhūṃśca tyaktvāśnaṃti bubhukṣitān

Translation

Тот, кто, будучи сам голоден, ест, оставив жену, детей и друзей — а также детей малых, старцев, исхудавших, больных, слуг, гостей и родичей, — поступает против дхармы и накапливает дурную заслугу, ибо пренебрегает сострадательным долгом, угодным Господу Шиве.

Word by Word

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ya (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• भार्या-पुत्र-मित्राणि: wives, sons, and friends
• भार्या-पुत्र-मित्राणि: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक) + putra (प्रातिपदिक) + mitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), द्वितीया, बहुवचन; इतरेतर/समाहार-द्वन्द्वः: ‘wives, sons, (and) friends’ as a set

• बाल-वृद्ध-कृश-आतुरान्: the children, the old, the weak, the sick
• बाल-वृद्ध-कृश-आतुरान्: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāla (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛśa (प्रातिपदिक) + ātura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणरूप द्वन्द्व-समूहः (enumerative): ‘children, old, emaciated, sick’ (persons)

• भृत्य-अतिथि-बन्धून्: servants, guests, and relatives
• भृत्य-अतिथि-बन्धून्: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛtya (प्रातिपदिक) + atithi (प्रातिपदिक) + bandhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः: ‘servants, guests, (and) relatives’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• त्यक्त्वा: having abandoned
• त्यक्त्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tyaj (धातु) + tyaktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): ‘having abandoned’

• अश्नन्ति: they eat
• अश्नन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: aś (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• बुभुक्षितान्: (while others are) hungry / the hungry (ones)
• बुभुक्षितान्: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bubhukṣita (प्रातिपदिक; √bhuj desiderative sense)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (hungry)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the teaching of Umā-Maheśvara to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that true Shaiva dharma is not merely ritual but compassionate responsibility—feeding and caring for dependents, guests, and the afflicted purifies the heart and aligns one with Shiva’s grace.

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

Linga/Saguna-Shiva worship is fulfilled by conduct that reflects Shiva’s qualities; neglecting the hungry and vulnerable while performing worship is considered hollow, whereas service and hospitality become living worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice anna-dāna (offering food) and atithi-sevā (honoring guests) as a Shaiva observance—especially on Shiva days—while remembering Shiva with mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī.