Shloka 41

मुक्तयतिदेहसंस्काररहस्यं — The Esoteric Rites for the Bodies of Liberated Ascetics

Devanagari script

पुत्रादयो यथा न्यायं कुर्य्युस्संस्कारमुत्तमम् । वच्मि तत्कृपया विप्र सावधानतया शृणु

Transliteration

putrādayo yathā nyāyaṃ kuryyussaṃskāramuttamam | vacmi tatkṛpayā vipra sāvadhānatayā śṛṇu

Translation

婆罗门啊，请留心听。出于慈悲，我将阐述神圣仪轨的卓越祭礼，子孙及亲属应按规则如法履行这些圣礼。

Word by Word

• पुत्रादयः: sons and others
• पुत्रादयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘पुत्र-आदि’ इति समासः (आदि-शब्देन समाहार/समूहः)

• यथा: as; according to
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (as/according to)

• न्यायम्: proper rule; due procedure
• न्यायम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (according to rule)

• कुर्युः: should perform
• कुर्युः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• संस्कारम्: rite; sacrament
• संस्कारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संस्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: excellent; best
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘संस्कारम्’)

• वच्मि: I say; I will tell
• वच्मि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन

• तत्: that (instruction)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कृपया: by compassion; out of mercy
• कृपया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; हेतौ/साधने (by/through compassion)

• विप्र: O Brahmin
• विप्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• सावधानतया: with attentiveness
• सावधानतया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सावधानता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; भाववाचक; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (with attentiveness)

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

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Didactic transition: Śiva (as teacher) introduces saṃskāra-vidhi for sons/kin to perform properly; not a site-specific legend.

Significance: General: correct saṃskāra and ritual order support dharma and śiva-bhakti, reducing karmic impediments (pāśa) for the family line.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

The verse frames saṃskāra as a purifying, dharmic discipline that prepares the family and the individual mind for Shiva-bhakti and higher knowledge—purity of conduct supporting liberation-oriented devotion in a Shaiva Siddhanta sense.

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

By insisting on “yathā nyāyaṃ” (according to rule), the text implies that outer worship—such as Linga-pūjā—should be supported by proper observances and ethical order; disciplined ritual life becomes a stable foundation for Saguna Shiva worship leading toward inner realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The immediate instruction is attentive listening and correct performance of prescribed rites; as a practical takeaway, one should approach Shiva-oriented observances with śuddhi (purity), niyama (regulated practice), and careful adherence to scriptural procedure.