Shloka 35
Kṣetra–Kāla–Phala-kramaḥ
Hierarchy of Sacred Place, Time, and Ritual Fruit
अयुतानां तथा दत्त्वा विष्णुलोके समश्नुते । अन्नं दत्त्वा तु लक्षाणां रुद्र लोके समश्नुते
ayutānāṃ tathā dattvā viṣṇuloke samaśnute | annaṃ dattvā tu lakṣāṇāṃ rudra loke samaśnute
By giving in charity tens of thousands in due measure, one comes to enjoy the realm of Viṣṇu. But by giving food in hundreds of thousands, one comes to enjoy the realm of Rudra (Śiva).
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Rudra
Sthala Purana: Not a sthala account; it ranks loka-attainments (Viṣṇuloka, Rudraloka) by magnitude of anna-dāna, reflecting Purāṇic cosmological hierarchy and devotional valuation.
Significance: Positions Rudraloka as a superior fruit relative to Viṣṇuloka within this passage’s merit calculus, encouraging intensified anna-dāna as a Śaiva-oriented sādhanā-support.
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It teaches that dāna (charity) bears specific spiritual fruit, and that annadāna is especially exalted—supporting life itself—thus being praised as a powerful merit leading to Rudra’s realm, aligning with Shaiva emphasis on compassionate service offered to Śiva.
Annadāna is a practical extension of Saguna Śiva-bhakti: serving beings as Śiva’s manifestations. In Linga-worship contexts, feeding devotees and the needy is treated as an offering (upacāra) that complements ritual worship and expresses devotion through action.
The verse suggests annadāna as a primary practice—feeding Brahmins, devotees, and the poor—ideally after Śiva-pūjā or on Śiva-vrata days (e.g., Mahāśivarātri), dedicating the merit to Rudra while maintaining purity, humility, and the Panchākṣarī attitude of surrender.