Shloka 11

पुराणविदः महिमा तथा अध्ययन-अध्यापन-दानफलम्

The Glory of the Purāṇa-Knower and the Fruits of Study, Teaching, and Giving

Devanagari script

मही ददाति यस्तस्मै कृष्टां फलवतीं शुभाम् । स तारयति वै वंश्यान्दश पूर्वान्दशापरान्

Transliteration

mahī dadāti yastasmai kṛṣṭāṃ phalavatīṃ śubhām | sa tārayati vai vaṃśyāndaśa pūrvāndaśāparān

Translation

Whoever donates to a worthy recipient cultivated land—fertile and auspicious—indeed becomes a liberator of his lineage, delivering ten generations before him and ten generations after him.

Word by Word

• mahīm: land/earth
• mahīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• dadāti: gives
• dadāti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• tasmai: to him
• tasmai: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• kṛṣṭām: cultivated
• kṛṣṭām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛṣṭa (कृदन्त; √kṛṣ धातु, क्त)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); past passive participle used adjectivally

• phalavatīm: fruitful
• phalavatīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: phalavatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śubhām: auspicious
• śubhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tārayati: causes to cross/saves
• tārayati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tṝ (धातु) [causative/णिच्: tārayati]
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); causative (णिच्)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/निश्चयार्थक अव्यय (indeed)

• vaṃśyān: descendants/lineage-members
• vaṃśyān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaṃśya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• daśa: ten
• daśa: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral adjective; indeclinable-like in form here; qualifying ‘pūrvān’

• pūrvān: former/previous (generations)
• pūrvān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• daśa: ten
• daśa: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral adjective; qualifying ‘aparān’

• aparān: later/future (generations)
• aparān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

FAQs

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

It teaches that dharmic charity—especially sustaining gifts like fertile cultivated land—creates powerful puṇya that supports not only the donor’s spiritual progress but also the well-being and upliftment of the family line across generations, aligning karma with Shiva’s grace.

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

In Shaiva practice, external worship (liṅga-pūjā) is strengthened by dharma such as dāna; offering resources that sustain life is viewed as an act pleasing to Saguna Shiva, purifying the devotee and making worship fruitful in both worldly welfare and spiritual liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to perform dāna as part of Shiva worship—especially on auspicious days like Mahashivratri—along with liṅga-pūjā and japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), dedicating the merit for ancestors and future generations.