Shloka 8

पानीयदान-प्रपादान-वापीकूपतडाग-निर्माण-प्रशंसा

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

Devanagari script

अथवा मित्रसदने मैत्रं मित्रार्तिवर्जितम् । कीर्तिसंजननं श्रेष्ठं तडागानां निवेशनम्

Transliteration

athavā mitrasadane maitraṃ mitrārtivarjitam | kīrtisaṃjananaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ taḍāgānāṃ niveśanam

Translation

Or else, let him establish amity in a friend’s abode—friendship free from causing distress to friends. Yet best of all is the founding of ponds, for it gives rise to enduring kīrti, noble fame.

Word by Word

• अथवा: or else
• अथवा: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/alternative particle (विकल्पबोधक अव्यय)

• मित्र-सदने: in a friend’s house
• मित्र-सदने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); ‘in the friend’s house’

• मैत्रम्: friendship
• मैत्रम्: Karta (कर्ता; subject/predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• मित्र-आर्ति-वर्जितम्: free from (causing) a friend’s distress
• मित्र-आर्ति-वर्जितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (वर्ज्-धातु; क्त-प्रत्यय कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); adjective to ‘मैत्रम्’; ‘free from a friend’s distress (i.e., not causing distress to a friend)’

• कीर्ति-संजननम्: producer of fame
• कीर्ति-संजननम्: Karta (कर्ता; predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + संजनन (संजन्-धातु; ल्युट्/अण्-प्रत्यय भाव/करण)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• श्रेष्ठम्: excellent, best
• श्रेष्ठम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective

• तडागानाम्: of ponds
• तडागानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तडाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• निवेशनम्: establishment/creation (of ponds)
• निवेशनम्: Karta (कर्ता; predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवेशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘dwelling/establishment’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Uma-saṃhitā teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General dharma teaching: non-harming friendship (maitra) and public water-works are praised as kīrti-producing; echoes the Purāṇic ideal of dharmic social order supporting devotion.

Significance: Establishing ponds is framed as the श्रेष्ठ (best) kīrti-sādhana—benefiting travelers and communities; in tīrtha culture, such acts are treated as enduring merit.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It teaches Shaiva dharma through non-harmful friendship (maitrī) and public welfare. Compassionate conduct and service to beings become purifying karma that supports inner clarity and devotion toward Pati (Shiva).

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

In the Shiva Purana, outer worship is strengthened by right conduct. Acts that relieve suffering—like providing water through ponds—are offerings in spirit to Saguna Shiva, who is praised as compassionate Lord of all beings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is seva (service) as a form of worship: perform charity that benefits many (e.g., water-reservoirs), while maintaining maitrī and avoiding harm—ideally alongside japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).