Shloka 72

Śrāddha-Kalpa: Pitṛ-Pūjā and Tithi-Phala (श्राद्धकल्पः पितृपूजा च तिथिफलम्)

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा चोर्ध्वमनयद्‌ रेतो वृषभवाहन: । ऊर्ध्वरेता: समभवत्‌ तत: प्रभूति चापि सः

Transliteration

ity uktvā cordhvam anayad reto vṛṣabhavāhanaḥ | ūrdhvaretāḥ samabhavat tataḥ prabhūti cāpi saḥ ||

Translation

Sinabi ni Bhīṣma: Pagkasabi niya nang gayon sa mga diyos, ang Panginoong may sagisag na toro (Śaṅkara) ay iniakyat ang kaniyang lakas ng paglikha. Mula noon ay nakilala siya bilang Ūrdhvaretā—yaong nagpipigil at nag-aangat ng binhi ng buhay—hudyat ng pagdaig sa pagnanasa at paglikha ng kapangyarihang ascetiko.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• उक्त्वा: having said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), active, same as main verb agent

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• ऊर्ध्वम्: upwards
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्व
• Form: adverbial accusative

• अनयत्: led / carried
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), past, 3, singular, परस्मैपद

• रेतः: semen, virile fluid
• रेतः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेतस्
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• वृषभवाहनः: the bull-vehicle (Śiva)
• वृषभवाहनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभवाहन
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• ऊर्ध्वरेताः: one whose semen is drawn upward
• ऊर्ध्वरेताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्ध्वरेतस्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• समभवत्: became
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), past, 3, singular, परस्मैपद, सम्

• ततः: thereupon; from then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• प्रभृति: onwards; beginning from
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रभृति

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• Vṛṣabha (the bull vehicle)
• Devatāḥ (the gods)
• Ūrdhvaretā (epithet/title)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined mastery over sensual impulse: divine power is shown not as indulgence but as restraint and sublimation—transforming generative force into tapas (spiritual heat/ascetic potency), a model of ethical self-governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

After addressing the gods, Śiva (the bull-rider) draws his retas upward, becoming known as Ūrdhvaretā. The narration explains the origin and significance of this epithet, emphasizing his ascetic control.