Shloka 2

पितृसर्ग-श्राद्धमाहात्म्य-प्रश्नः

Pitṛ-sarga and the Greatness of Śrāddha: The Inquiry

Devanagari script

शौनक उवाच । सूतसूत चिरंजीव व्यासशिष्य नमोस्तु ते । श्राविता परमा दिव्या कथा परमपावनी

Transliteration

śaunaka uvāca | sūtasūta ciraṃjīva vyāsaśiṣya namostu te | śrāvitā paramā divyā kathā paramapāvanī

Translation

圣者绍那迦说道：“噢，苏多啊，苏多之子，长寿者，毗耶娑之弟子——向你致敬。你为我们诵说了至高而神圣的传记，其净化之力最为殊胜。”

Word by Word

• शौनकः: Śaunaka
• शौनकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सूत-सूत: O son of Sūta
• सूत-सूत: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक) + सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सूतस्य सूतः)

• चिरंजीव: O long-lived one
• चिरंजीव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिरंजीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (चिरं जीवति इति)

• व्यास-शिष्य: O disciple of Vyāsa
• व्यास-शिष्य: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक) + शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (व्यासस्य शिष्यः)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Kriya (क्रिया/utterance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (salutation formula)

• अस्तु: may it be
• अस्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/benedictive sense), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: to you / your
• ते: Sampradana/Sambandha (सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive) एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• श्राविता: has been narrated / caused to be heard
• श्राविता: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रावित (प्रातिपदिक; √श्रु causative)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि क्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘कथा’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• परमा: supreme
• परमा: Karta (कर्ता/subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (‘कथा’)

• दिव्या: divine
• दिव्या: Karta (कर्ता/subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (‘कथा’)

• कथा: story, discourse
• कथा: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• परम-पावनी: supremely purifying
• परम-पावनी: Karta (कर्ता/subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + पावनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (परमा च सा पावनी च) विशेषणम् (‘कथा’)

Speaker

Shaunaka

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Honoring the kathā-vaktā (reciter) and guru-paramparā is itself purifying; it prepares the listener for Śiva’s grace through right hearing (śravaṇa) and humility.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: namo'stu te

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shaunaka
• Suta
• Vyasa

FAQs

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

It highlights śravaṇa (devotional listening) as a primary purifier: hearing the divine Shiva-kathā elevates the seeker’s mind toward Pati (Śiva), loosening bondage (pāśa) through devotion and sacred remembrance.

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

By praising the recitation of the sacred narrative, the verse supports Saguna-bhakti—approaching Śiva through his stories, names, and teachings, which traditionally culminate in reverence for Śiva’s worshipful presence, including the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular śravaṇa of Shiva Purana kathā with reverence—ideally preceded by simple purity observances—serves as a practical devotional discipline; it can be paired with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” for deeper inward assimilation.