Shloka 13

गाणपत्यदानकथा

Bāṇāsura Receives Gaṇapatya; Genealogical Prelude

Devanagari script

विरोचनः सुतस्तस्य महा दातृवरोऽभवत् । शक्राय स्वशिरो योऽदाद्याचमानाय विप्रतः

Transliteration

virocanaḥ sutastasya mahā dātṛvaro'bhavat | śakrāya svaśiro yo'dādyācamānāya viprataḥ

Translation

His son Virocana became famed as an excellent and mighty giver; for when Indra (Śakra) came to him disguised as a brahmin and begged, Virocana bestowed even his own head in charity.

Word by Word

• विरोचनः: Virocana
• विरोचनः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम

• सुतः: son
• सुतः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him/of that (Prahrāda)
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• महा: great
• महा: विशेषण (Modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् उपसर्गसदृश-पूर्वपद; अत्र विशेषणार्थे (great)

• दातृवरः: best of givers
• दातृवरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दातृवर (प्रातिपदिक: दातृ + वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (दातॄणां वरः)

• अभवत्: became/was
• अभवत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• शक्राय: to Śakra (Indra)
• शक्राय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• स्वशिरः: his own head
• स्वशिरः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वशिरस् (प्रातिपदिक: स्व + शिरस्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (स्वं शिरः)

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम

• अदात्: gave
• अदात्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• याचमानाय: to (him) who was begging
• याचमानाय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: याचमान (प्रातिपदिक; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त from याच् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त-विशेषणम् (present participle): 'to one who was begging'

• विप्रतः: from a brāhmaṇa
• विप्रतः: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; 'from a brāhmaṇa' (source/agent sense)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya in the Rudrasaṃhitā narrative flow)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Virocana
• Śakra (Indra)

FAQs

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

The verse extols dāna taken to its highest limit—self-surrender—showing that purity of intention and readiness to renounce even the dearest possession can refine the ego and support the soul’s movement toward grace and liberation under Pati (Śiva).

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

Though not directly about the Liṅga, it supports Saguna-Śiva devotion by highlighting the Shaiva ethic of inner offering: true worship is not only external ritual but the spirit of complete dedication, which culminates in offering the self to the Lord worshipped as Śiva in form (Saguna).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice daily dāna according to capacity and pair it with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), mentally offering the fruits of action to Śiva—transforming charity into inner sacrifice (tyāga) rather than mere display.