Shloka 17
पानीयदान-प्रपादान-वापीकूपतडाग-निर्माण-प्रशंसा
Praise of Water-Gift and the Construction of Wells and Tanks
अतीतानागतान्सर्वान्पितृवंशांस्तु तारयेत् । कांतारे वृक्षरोपी यस्तस्माद्वृक्षांस्तु रोपयेत्
atītānāgatānsarvānpitṛvaṃśāṃstu tārayet | kāṃtāre vṛkṣaropī yastasmādvṛkṣāṃstu ropayet
One who plants trees in a wilderness delivers the entire line of ancestors—both those who have passed away and those yet to come. Therefore, one should indeed plant trees.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Significance: Tree-planting in desolate places is elevated as a grace-bearing act that benefits travelers and beings; framed as punya that uplifts pitṛ-lineage (pitṛ-tarpaṇa by proxy).
Role: nurturing
FAQs
The verse teaches that compassionate dharmic service—here, planting trees for the benefit of all beings—creates powerful puṇya that supports and uplifts one’s ancestral line, aligning the devotee with Shiva’s grace through selfless welfare.
In Shaiva practice, external worship of the Liṅga is completed by lived dharma. Planting trees becomes an offering of sustenance to the world (jagat-sevā), a Saguna expression of devotion that pleases Shiva, the Lord of all beings.
A practical vrata-like takeaway is to plant and nurture trees as a devotional act—ideally alongside Shiva worship such as pañcākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and simple charity dedicated to the Pitrs.