Shloka 28

पानीयदान-प्रपादान-वापीकूपतडाग-निर्माण-प्रशंसा

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

Devanagari script

पालनं सर्ववेदानां सर्वतीर्थावगाहनम् । सत्येन वहते लोके सर्वमाप्नोत्यसंशयम्

Transliteration

pālanaṃ sarvavedānāṃ sarvatīrthāvagāhanam | satyena vahate loke sarvamāpnotyasaṃśayam

Translation

Truthfulness upholds the essence of all the Vedas and equals bathing in every sacred tīrtha. By truth the world’s order is sustained; through truth a person attains everything—without doubt.

Word by Word

• पालनम्: observance/protection
• पालनम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पालन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• सर्व-वेदानाम्: of all the Vedas
• सर्व-वेदानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), बहुवचनम्; कर्मधारय-समासः (‘सर्वे वेदाः’)

• सर्व-तीर्थ-अवगाहनम्: bathing in all sacred places
• सर्व-तीर्थ-अवगाहनम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + अवगाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘सर्वतीर्थाणाम् अवगाहनम्’ = bathing/immersion in all pilgrim-places)

• सत्येन: by truth
• सत्येन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण/Instrumental), एकवचनम्

• वहते: bears/carries (has effect)
• वहते: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: अधिकरण (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचनम्

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• आप्नोति: attains
• आप्नोति: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• असंशयम्: undoubtedly
• असंशयम्: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: असंशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभावः/अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (adverbial accusative: ‘without doubt’)

Speaker

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

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Equates satya with ‘sarva-tīrtha-avagāhana’ (all pilgrimages), internalizing pilgrimage as ethical purity; aligns with Siddhānta stress on caryā as the foundation for higher sādhana.

FAQs

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

It teaches that satya (truthfulness) is not merely ethics but a spiritual power that sustains dharma and purifies the soul; it is valued as highly as Vedic observance and pilgrimage, leading toward Shiva’s grace and liberation.

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

Linga-worship is meant to establish inner purity and steadiness; practicing satya makes the devotee fit for Shiva’s presence, turning external pūjā into living devotion aligned with Shiva as Pati, the ground of cosmic order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt satya as a daily vrata: speak truth beneficially, avoid deceit, and pair this with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) before the Linga, treating truthful speech and intention as the core offering.