Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

यत्कृत्वा मुच्यते पापैर्वधबंधकृतोद्भवैः । तुलादानं महत्पुण्यं सर्वपापक्षयंकरम्

Transliteration

yatkṛtvā mucyate pāpairvadhabaṃdhakṛtodbhavaiḥ | tulādānaṃ mahatpuṇyaṃ sarvapāpakṣayaṃkaram

Translation

By performing it, one is freed from sins arising from acts such as killing and imprisoning. Tulā-dāna—the gift made by weighing—is a great merit that brings about the destruction of all sins.

Word by Word

• यत्: which (act/thing)
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun (यत्)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal form; ‘having done’

• मुच्यते: is freed
• मुच्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Passive voice (कर्मणि प्रयोग), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• पापैः: from sins
• पापैः: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• वध-बन्ध-कृत-उद्भवैः: arising from killing and imprisonment
• वध-बन्ध-कृत-उद्भवैः: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (कृ-धातु; क्त-प्रत्यय, कृदन्त) + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective qualifying ‘पापैः’; samāsa: वधबन्धकृतोद्भव = ‘arising from acts of killing and binding’

• तुला-दानम्: the gift of a balance/scale (tulā-dāna)
• तुला-दानम्: Karta (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुला (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘tulāyāḥ dānam’

• महत्-पुण्यम्: greatly meritorious
• महत्-पुण्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); adjective/predicate to ‘तुलादानम्’

• सर्व-पाप-क्षयम्-करम्: causing the destruction of all sins
• सर्व-पाप-क्षयम्-करम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); bahu-samāsa: ‘that which makes the destruction of all sins’

Speaker

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

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that sincere, dharmic charity—especially tulā-dāna—functions as a powerful prāyaścitta that burns sinful karma, supporting inner purification and readiness for Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

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

In Shaiva practice, dāna is offered as an act of devotion to Saguna Shiva (often alongside Linga worship), expressing surrender and ethical transformation—key supports for receiving Shiva’s purifying presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to tulā-dāna (donating goods—such as gold, grains, or essentials—equal to one’s weight), ideally done with Shiva-bhakti, purity of intent, and remembrance of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).