Shloka 14

पितृसर्ग-श्राद्धमाहात्म्य-प्रश्नः

Pitṛ-sarga and the Greatness of Śrāddha: The Inquiry

Devanagari script

पितुः पितामहश्चैव त्रिषु पिंडेषु नित्यदा । पितरो धर्मकामस्य प्रजाकामस्य च प्रजाम्

Transliteration

pituḥ pitāmahaścaiva triṣu piṃḍeṣu nityadā | pitaro dharmakāmasya prajākāmasya ca prajām

Translation

తండ్రి మరియు పితామహుడు నిత్యమూ మూడు పిండాలలో నివసిస్తారు. పితృదేవతలు ధర్మసిద్ధిని, కోరికల నెరవేర్పును ప్రసాదిస్తారు; సంతానకామికి సంతానాన్ని అనుగ్రహిస్తారు.

Word by Word

• पितुः: of the father
• पितुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पितामहः: the grandfather
• पितामहः: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय

• त्रिषु: in three
• त्रिषु: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; ‘पिण्डेषु’ इति पदं विशेषयति

• पिण्डेषु: in the rice-balls (piṇḍas)
• पिण्डेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• नित्यदा: always
• नित्यदा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb: always/at all times)

• पितरः: the ancestors/fathers
• पितरः: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• धर्मकामस्य: of one desiring dharma
• धर्मकामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (धर्मस्य कामः), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रजाकामस्य: of one desiring progeny
• प्रजाकामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (प्रजायाः कामः), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• प्रजाम्: progeny
• प्रजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; it explains the metaphysical/ritual mapping of father and grandfather into the tri-piṇḍa structure and attributes boons (dharma, kāma, prajā) to pitṛ-prasāda.

Significance: Affirms śrāddha as a stabilizing dharmic act (sthiti) sustaining lineage and social order; motivates regular performance through promised results.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs
• father
• grandfather

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that honoring the Pitṛs through the prescribed piṇḍa offerings sustains dharma and supports worldly well-being; ancestral grace becomes a channel through which order, merit, and family continuity are maintained—preparing the devotee for steadier Shaiva sādhanā.

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

In Shaiva practice, Pitṛ-karmas are part of living in dharma, which pleases Saguna Shiva as the Lord of cosmic law (Pati). By keeping obligations to ancestors, a devotee removes impediments (pāśa-like bindings) that disturb worship and steadiness in Linga-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to regular Pitṛ rites such as piṇḍa-dāna and tarpaṇa with faith; paired with Shaiva remembrance (e.g., quiet japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to dedicate the merit and seek purification of familial karmic obstacles.