Shloka 10

Mahādāna-prakaraṇa (The Doctrine of Great Gifts): Suvarṇa–Go–Bhūmi and Tulā-dāna

Devanagari script

अग्निर्हि देवतास्सर्वाः सुवर्णं च हुताशनः । तस्मात्सुवर्णं दत्त्वा च दत्तास्स्युस्सर्वदेवताः

Transliteration

agnirhi devatāssarvāḥ suvarṇaṃ ca hutāśanaḥ | tasmātsuvarṇaṃ dattvā ca dattāssyussarvadevatāḥ

Translation

إنَّ النارَ نفسَها تَتَجَسَّدُ فيها جميعُ الآلهة، والذهبُ على طبيعةِ هوتاشَنَة، نارِ القُربانِ الحاملةِ للقرابين. فلذلك، مَن قدَّمَ الذهبَ هِبةً فكأنما أدَّى العطاءَ الواجبَ إلى جميعِ الآلهة.

Word by Word

• अग्निः: Agni (fire-god)
• अग्निः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), निश्चयार्थ/हेत्वर्थ

• देवताः: deities
• देवताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘देवताः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• सुवर्णम्: gold
• सुवर्णम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• हुताशनः: Hutāśana (fire, eater of oblations)
• हुताशनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हुत + अशन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘हुतं अश्नाति’ (he who consumes offerings)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपं, अत्र हेत्वर्थे अव्ययीभूत (therefore/from that)

• सुवर्णम्: gold
• सुवर्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), अर्थः ‘having given’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दत्ताः: (are) given/granted
• दत्ताः: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘देवताः’ इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषण (predicative)

• स्युः: would be / become
• स्युः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• सर्व-देवताः: all the deities
• सर्व-देवताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘सर्वाः देवताः’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; it gives a Vedic rationale: Agni is sarva-devatā-maya and suvarṇa is identified with Hutāśana’s nature, so suvarṇa-dāna functions like universal deva-tarpaṇa.

Significance: General: supports yajña/dakṣiṇā logic—giving gold is treated as satisfying the entire pantheon, harmonizing worldly order (ṛta/dharma) supportive of Śaiva life.

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

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

It teaches that sacred giving (dāna), especially gold, is not merely social virtue but a karmic purification: honoring Agni—who is treated as the collective channel of the devas—refines the devotee and supports the inward turn toward Shiva-bhakti and liberation.

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

In Saguna Shiva worship, outer dharma supports inner devotion. Gifts and yajna-based offerings cultivate purity (śuddhi) and gratitude, making the mind fit for Linga-upāsanā, mantra-japa (including the Panchākṣara), and steady devotion to Lord Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform dharmic dāna—especially suvarṇa-dāna according to capacity—ideally alongside Agni-related worship (homa) and Shiva devotion; let the act be done with humility and dedication of merit to Lord Shiva.