Shloka 32
शिशुकस्य शिवशास्त्रप्राप्तिः (Śiśuka’s Attainment of Śaiva Teaching and Grace)
पूर्वजन्मनि यद्दत्तं शिवमुद्दिश्य वै सुतः । तदेव लभ्यते नान्यद्विष्णुमुद्दिश्य वा प्रभुम्
pūrvajanmani yaddattaṃ śivamuddiśya vai sutaḥ | tadeva labhyate nānyadviṣṇumuddiśya vā prabhum
O Suta, whatever was given in a former birth with Lord Śiva as the intended recipient—only that very fruit is obtained, and nothing else, even if one were to dedicate it to Lord Viṣṇu, the Sovereign.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Doctrinal statement on uddīśya (intended recipient) and karmaphala: gifts dedicated to Śiva in a prior birth yield their specific fruit; the fruit does not transmigrate by later re-dedication to another deity.
Significance: Encourages steadiness (niṣṭhā) in iṣṭa-devatā-bhakti and careful saṅkalpa in dāna/pūjā; reinforces the gravity of intention in ritual economy.
Cosmic Event: Rebirth (saṃsāra) implied: continuity of karmic accounting across births.
FAQs
It teaches that the fruit of charity and worship follows the original intention (uddishya): offerings dedicated to Śiva yield Śiva-oriented merit and grace, emphasizing moral causality and devotional focus in a Shaiva framework.
Linga/Saguna worship is defined by intentional dedication to Śiva; the verse underscores that the devotee’s sankalpa and recipient (Śiva as Pati) shape the spiritual fruit, strengthening the principle of exclusive, focused bhakti.
Make a clear sankalpa before worship or dāna—mentally dedicating the act to Śiva—ideally accompanied by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to seal the intention and align the merit with Śiva.