Shloka 61

Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya

Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification

Devanagari script

इंद्र लोकप्रदं विद्यादयुतं ब्रह्मलोकदम् । यां देवतां पुरस्कृत्य दानमाचरते नरः

Transliteration

iṃdra lokapradaṃ vidyādayutaṃ brahmalokadam | yāṃ devatāṃ puraskṛtya dānamācarate naraḥ

Translation

Know that charity performed with Indra as the presiding deity bestows Indra’s world; performed with the Lord of knowledge as presiding deity, it yields countless rewards; and performed with Brahmā as presiding deity, it grants Brahmā’s world. Whatever deity a person places foremost in mind while giving—toward that deity’s realm the fruit of the gift is directed.

Word by Word

• इन्द्र-लोक-प्रदम्: granting Indra-loka
• इन्द्र-लोक-प्रदम्: Karma (कर्म/object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः इन्द्रलोकं प्रददाति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• विद्यात्: one should know/understand
• विद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अयुतम्: ten thousand
• अयुतम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्या/परिमाण (ten-thousand)

• ब्रह्म-लोक-दम्: giving Brahma-loka
• ब्रह्म-लोक-दम्: Karma (कर्म/object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः ब्रह्मलोकं ददाति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• याम्: whom/which
• याम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• देवताम्: deity
• देवताम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुरस्कृत्य: having placed in front; honoring
• पुरस्कृत्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/absolutive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरस् (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); अर्थः ‘पुरतः कृत्वा’

• दानम्: gift/charity
• दानम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आचरते: practices/performs
• आचरते: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches that the fruit of dāna follows the giver’s inner orientation (sankalpa): the deity held foremost in mind shapes the resulting merit and the realm attained, highlighting the primacy of intention in spiritual practice.

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

By implication, if charity is done with Shiva (Saguna Shiva as Linga) placed foremost, the merit is directed toward Shiva-bhakti rather than merely toward limited heavenly lokas, aligning action with devotion to Pati (Shiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform dāna with a clear sankalpa—mentally installing the chosen deity (ideally Shiva) in the heart, optionally repeating the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to consecrate the act and direct its fruit toward Shaiva devotion.