Shloka 10

Pitṛbhakti and Śrāddha: The Classification of Pitṛs and the Superiority of Pitṛ-kārya

Devanagari script

शृणु भीष्म पुरा भूयो भारद्वाजात्मजा द्विजाः । योगधर्ममनुप्राप्य भ्रष्टा दुश्चरितेन वै

Transliteration

śṛṇu bhīṣma purā bhūyo bhāradvājātmajā dvijāḥ | yogadharmamanuprāpya bhraṣṭā duścaritena vai

Translation

اے بھیشم، سنو— قدیم زمانے میں بھاردواج کے دِوِج بیٹوں نے یوگ دھرم حاصل کیا تھا؛ مگر واقعی بدکرداری کے سبب وہ اس یوگیہ راہ سے بھٹک گئے۔

Word by Word

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• भीष्म: O Bhīṣma
• भीष्म: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly/once
• पुरा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• भूयः: again/more
• भूयः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरर्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: again/more)

• भारद्वाज-आत्मजाः: sons of Bhāradvāja
• भारद्वाज-आत्मजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारद्वाज (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘of Bhāradvāja’ + ‘sons’

• द्विजाः: Brahmins (twice-born)
• द्विजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), बहुवचन; apposition to subject

• योग-धर्मम्: the discipline/dharma of yoga
• योग-धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (determinative): ‘dharma of yoga / yogic discipline’

• अनुप्राप्य: having attained
• अनुप्राप्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having attained/obtained’; अव्ययभाव (indeclinable participial)

• भ्रष्टाः: fallen/deviated
• भ्रष्टाः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √भ्रंश्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), बहुवचन; predicate adjective to subject

• दुश्चरितेन: by/through evil conduct
• दुश्चरितेन: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष् (उपसर्ग/प्रत्ययार्थ) + चरित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘bad conduct’

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निश्चयार्थक निपात (particle of emphasis/indeed)

Speaker

Sage (narrator) addressing Bhishma (traditionally understood as a Purana-style narration within Umāsaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Warns that yogic attainment without ethical restraint can be lost; in Siddhānta terms, mala and pāśa reassert through adharma, causing ‘concealment’ (tirodhāna) of realized clarity.

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Bharadvaja

FAQs

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

It teaches that yogic attainment is not secured by technique alone; without śīla (ethical conduct) and devotion to Pati (Śiva), the pashu-mind can fall back into bondage (pāśa).

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is grounded in purity and restraint; this verse warns that abandoning right conduct undermines both meditation on Saguna Shiva and the inner steadiness needed for Linga-upāsanā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain yama-niyama-like discipline—truthfulness, continence, non-injury, and steady japa/meditation on Shiva (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—so that yoga does not collapse due to misconduct.