Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 54

Devanagari script

प्रस्थैकेन च तस्योक्तं लक्षमेकं पुरातनैः । ब्रह्मभोजं तथा प्रोक्तमर्कसंख्याप्रमाणतः

Transliteration

prasthaikena ca tasyoktaṃ lakṣamekaṃ purātanaiḥ | brahmabhojaṃ tathā proktamarkasaṃkhyāpramāṇataḥ

Translation

The ancients have said that by a single prastha (measure) of it one gains the merit of giving a hundred thousand in charity. Likewise, by the reckoning based on the number of arka, it is declared equal to a Brahmabhoja— a sacred feeding offered in honour of the Brahmanas.

Word by Word

• प्रस्थ-एकेन: by one prastha (measure)
• प्रस्थ-एकेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रस्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), एकवचन; संख्यापूर्वक-तत्पुरुषः (एकप्रस्थेन = one prastha as measure)

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

• तस्य: of that / his
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/6th), एकवचन (genitive singular)

• उक्तम्: was said/declared
• उक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (said/declared)

• लक्षम्: a lakh
• लक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (a lakh; target/measure)

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying लक्षम्)

• पुरातनैः: by the ancients
• पुरातनैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), बहुवचन; कर्तृवाचक-प्रयोगे (by the ancients)

• ब्रह्म-भोजम्: the brahma-measure/‘brahmabhoja’
• ब्रह्म-भोजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + भोज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः भोजः/भोजनम्)

• तथा: thus/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• प्रोक्तम्: was proclaimed
• प्रोक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (proclaimed)

• अर्क-संख्या-प्रमाणतः: according to the measure of the sun-number
• अर्क-संख्या-प्रमाणतः: Hetu/Pramana (हेतु/प्रमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + संख्या (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित)
• Form: तद्धितान्त-अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘-तः’; समासः (तत्पुरुष-श्रृंखला): अर्कसंख्या = number of suns; तदनुसार-प्रमाणतः = according to that measure

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

FAQs

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

It teaches that seemingly small, correctly offered sacred acts (measured and sanctioned by tradition) can yield vast merit, supporting the Shaiva view that disciplined dharma and devotion purify the soul and prepare it for Shiva’s grace.

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

In the Shiva Purana, ritual acts like dāna and Brahmabhoja commonly accompany Saguna Shiva worship—supporting temple/linga rites and devotees—so that external offerings become instruments for inner purification and devotion to Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to perform charitable giving and sacred feeding (Brahmabhoja) with proper measure and intention; when paired with Shiva-mantra japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) it aligns outward merit with inward remembrance.