Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

तस्माच्छ्राद्धानि देयानि योगिनां तु विशेषतः । सर्वेषां राजतं पात्रमथ वा रजतान्वितम्

Transliteration

tasmācchrāddhāni deyāni yogināṃ tu viśeṣataḥ | sarveṣāṃ rājataṃ pātramatha vā rajatānvitam

Translation

因此，施行施食祭（śrāddha）之供养必当奉献——尤应供养诸瑜伽行者。凡此诸仪，当用银器为皿，或至少用镶银、衬银之器。

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore / from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (Ablative/हेतु), एकवचनम्; ‘therefore’ अर्थे

• श्राद्धानि: śrāddha rites
• श्राद्धानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• देयानि: should be given
• देयानि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) → देय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विध्यर्थक-भावः; भविष्यत्कृदन्त/कर्तव्यता (gerundive/तव्यत्-भाव), नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; ‘to be given’

• योगिनाम्: for yogis / of yogis
• योगिनाम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/सम्प्रदान-सम्बन्ध), बहुवचनम्

• तु: indeed / especially
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक-निपातः (but/indeed)

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: especially)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• राजतम्: silver
• राजतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; पात्रं विशेषयति

• पात्रम्: vessel
• पात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• अथ: or else / then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर/विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम् (then/now)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपातः (or)

• रजत-अन्वितम्: adorned with silver
• रजत-अन्वितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रजत (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (रजतेन अन्वितम् = endowed with silver)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes honoring yogins/Śiva-jñānins as living loci of merit; service to them is treated as a grace-bearing act.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that honoring the departed through śrāddha becomes especially fruitful when offered with reverence to yogins—those disciplined in Shiva-centered realization—because such recipients embody purity and are fit conduits for sacred merit within a Shaiva framework.

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

In the Shiva Purana, Saguna Shiva worship includes dharma-based acts like dana and śrāddha performed as offerings to Shiva’s order and devotees; supporting yogins aligns one’s household duties with Shiva-bhakti, reinforcing worship as both ritual and ethical devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It emphasizes correct śrāddha procedure—making offerings with sanctified materials (notably silver vessels) and giving to yogins; the practical takeaway is disciplined charity (dāna) and purity of means as part of Shiva-oriented observance.