Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

प्रयच्छते यः कपिलां सवत्सां स्वर्णशृंगिकाम् । कांस्यपात्रां रौप्यखुरां सर्वलक्षणलक्षिताम्

Transliteration

prayacchate yaḥ kapilāṃ savatsāṃ svarṇaśṛṃgikām | kāṃsyapātrāṃ raupyakhurāṃ sarvalakṣaṇalakṣitām

Translation

Whoever donates a tawny cow (kapilā) together with her calf—adorned with golden horns, with hooves plated in silver, accompanied by a bronze vessel, and marked with every auspicious sign—truly performs a greatly meritorious dāna, pleasing Lord Śiva and upholding the path of dharma.

Word by Word

• प्रयच्छते: gives, bestows
• प्रयच्छते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + यम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष?—न; अत्र 3rd person singular (प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन), आत्मनेपद; ‘प्रयच्छते’ = gives/bestows

• यः: who (he who)
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक (relative pronoun)

• कपिलाम्: a tawny cow
• कपिलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• सवत्साम्: with a calf
• सवत्साम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘वत्सेन सह’ (with a calf)

• स्वर्णशृंगिकाम्: having golden horns
• स्वर्णशृंगिकाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ण + शृंगिन्/शृंगिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘स्वर्ण-शृङ्ग-युक्ता’ (having golden horns)

• कांस्यपात्राम्: with a bronze vessel
• कांस्यपात्राम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कांस्य + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘कांस्य-पात्र-युक्ता’ (with a bronze vessel)

• रौप्यखुराम्: with silver hooves
• रौप्यखुराम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रौप्य + खुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘रौप्य-खुर-युक्ता’ (with silver hooves)

• सर्वलक्षणलक्षिताम्: endowed with all auspicious marks
• सर्वलक्षणलक्षिताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + लक्षण + लक्षित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (PPP) ‘लक्षित’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘सर्वैः लक्षणैः लक्षिता’ (marked by all auspicious signs)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Elaboration of go-dāna vidhi: gifting a kapilā cow with calf and auspicious adornments; functions as a ritual-ethical prescription rather than a site legend.

Significance: Merit through mahā-dāna performed with completeness (sakalopakaraṇa), believed to remove pāpa and strengthen dharma; in Śaiva Siddhānta, such puṇya supports purification of mala and loosening of pāśa, though final release depends on Śiva’s grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It praises go-dāna (donation of a cow) as a dharmic act that purifies the giver, generates puṇya, and supports a life aligned with Śiva’s order—reducing bondage (pāśa) through righteous conduct.

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

While not naming the Liṅga directly, the verse reflects Saguna-Śiva devotion expressed through dharma: offerings and charity performed with faith become acts that please Śiva and prepare the devotee for deeper Liṅga-worship and inner purification.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests a concrete ritual of charity (go-dāna) performed with proper auspiciousness; as a Shaiva takeaway, one may pair such dharmic giving with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and a sattvic vow.