Shloka 15
पानीयदान-प्रपादान-वापीकूपतडाग-निर्माण-प्रशंसा
Praise of Water-Gift and the Construction of Wells and Tanks
वसंते च तथा ग्रीष्मे सलिलं यस्य तिष्ठति । अतिरात्राश्वमेधानां फलमाहुर्मनीषिणः
vasaṃte ca tathā grīṣme salilaṃ yasya tiṣṭhati | atirātrāśvamedhānāṃ phalamāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ
The wise declare that one whose reservoir retains water even in spring and in summer attains merit equal to performing the Atirātra and the Aśvamedha sacrifices.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; culmination of the seasonal teaching: if water remains even in vasanta and grīṣma, sages declare the merit equals Atirātra and Aśvamedha sacrifices—peak śrauta benchmarks.
Significance: Portrays sustaining water through summer (scarcity) as the highest welfare-tapas; encourages long-term infrastructure and compassion toward all beings (paśu) under Paśupati.
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It teaches that sustaining water for beings—especially through the heat of summer—is a powerful dharmic service whose merit is praised as equal to great Vedic sacrifices, aligning outer welfare with inner purification.
In Shaiva practice, offering and providing water is a direct extension of jalābhiṣeka and compassion: serving life is treated as serving Shiva, the indwelling Lord (Pati) present in all beings.
Maintain a water source (pond, well, trough) and regularly offer clean water while mentally dedicating the act to Shiva—optionally reciting the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” as a devotional sankalpa.