Shloka 1

Mahādāna-prakaraṇa (The Doctrine of Great Gifts): Suvarṇa–Go–Bhūmi and Tulā-dāna

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । शस्तानि घोरदानानि महादानानि नित्यशः । पात्रेभ्यस्तु प्रदेयानि आत्मानं तारयंति च

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | śastāni ghoradānāni mahādānāni nityaśaḥ | pātrebhyastu pradeyāni ātmānaṃ tārayaṃti ca

Translation

Sanatkumāra said: “Commendable gifts—great gifts, even those that are difficult and awe-inspiring to undertake—should be given regularly, and indeed only to worthy recipients. Such offerings also become a means of delivering one’s own self.”

Word by Word

• sanat-kumāraḥ: Sanatkumāra
• sanat-kumāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanat (प्रातिपदिक) + kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (sanat kumāraḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• śastāni: commendable, prescribed
• śastāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying dānāni)

• ghora-dānāni: awe-inspiring gifts (great charities)
• ghora-dānāni: Karta (कर्ता) (topic/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (ghoraṃ dānam), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन

• mahā-dānāni: great gifts
• mahā-dānāni: Karta (कर्ता) (appositional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (mahā dānam), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन

• nityaśaḥ: always, regularly
• nityaśaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nityaśaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/कालवाचक (adverb: always, regularly)

• pātrebhyaḥ: to worthy recipients
• pātrebhyaḥ: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी/पञ्चमी बहुवचन; here चतुर्थी (dative) with ‘pradeyāni’

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrast/emphasis)

• pradeyāni: to be given
• pradeyāni: Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√dā (धातु) + pradeya (कृदन्त)
• Form: भाव्य/कर्तव्यतार्थक कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; predicate adjective: “are to be given”

• ātmānam: oneself
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• tārayanti: they save, deliver
• tārayanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tṝ (धातु) (causative √tāraya)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; causative sense “cause to cross/save”

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Positions dāna (charitable giving) to worthy recipients as a purificatory support (kriyā/caryā) that prepares the soul for Śiva’s grace and higher knowledge.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that disciplined, regular charity—done with discernment toward worthy recipients—purifies the giver and becomes a means to “cross over” bondage, aligning with Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis on purification and readiness for Shiva’s grace.

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

In Linga/Saguna Shiva worship, outer acts like dāna support inner purity (śuddhi) and devotion (bhakti). Giving rightly is presented as a dharmic support that complements pūjā, helping the devotee become fit for Shiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to adopt nitya-dāna (regular giving) as part of daily Shiva-sādhanā—ideally alongside mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple pūjā—ensuring the gift is offered to a pātra (worthy person/institution).