Shloka 10

पानीयदान-प्रपादान-वापीकूपतडाग-निर्माण-प्रशंसा

Praise of Water-Gift and the Construction of Wells and Tanks

Devanagari script

चतुर्विधानां भूतानां तडागः परमाश्रयः । तडागादीनि सर्वाणि दिशन्ति श्रियमुत्तमाम्

Transliteration

caturvidhānāṃ bhūtānāṃ taḍāgaḥ paramāśrayaḥ | taḍāgādīni sarvāṇi diśanti śriyamuttamām

Translation

For the fourfold classes of living beings, a pond is a supreme refuge. Ponds and other such water-works bestow the highest prosperity and auspicious well-being.

Word by Word

• चतुर्विधानाम्: of the four kinds
• चतुर्विधानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषणम् (adjective) — ‘of the four kinds’

• भूतानाम्: of beings
• भूतानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तडागः: a pond
• तडागः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तडाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• परमाश्रयः: the supreme refuge
• परमाश्रयः: विशेष्य-विशेषणभावः / विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारयः — ‘supreme (as) refuge’

• तडागादीनि: ponds and the like
• तडागादीनि: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तडाग + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुषः — ‘ponds and the like’

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषणम्

• दिशन्ति: bestow, grant
• दिशन्ति: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दिश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• श्रियम्: prosperity, fortune
• श्रियम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• उत्तमाम्: excellent, highest
• उत्तमाम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् (qualifying श्रियम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Uma Samhita teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General teaching: water-reservoirs are ‘paramāśraya’ for caturvidha-bhūtas (all modes of life), thus a paradigmatic act of sustaining the world.

Significance: Supports all beings (including animals and plants), aligning with ahiṃsā and universal welfare; such works are often attached to temples/maṭhas as enduring supports for pilgrims.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā

Role: nurturing

FAQs

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

The verse elevates compassionate public service—especially providing water—as a Shaiva act of dharma: supporting all beings (pashu) becomes an offering aligned with Pati (Shiva), and such welfare-work brings auspiciousness and merit.

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

In Shaiva practice, worship is not only ritual before the Linga but also seva that sustains life; creating ponds and water-reservoirs is treated as an outward expression of devotion to Saguna Shiva, who is immanent as the support of all beings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to perform dana/seva by supporting water access (digging/maintaining ponds, wells, tanks) while dedicating the act to Shiva with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namah Shivaya), treating the service as Shiva-arpaṇa (offering to Shiva).