Shloka 37

Kṣetra–Kāla–Phala-kramaḥ

Hierarchy of Sacred Place, Time, and Ritual Fruit

Devanagari script

वृद्धानां रुद्र बुद्ध्या हि देयं ज्ञानार्थिभिर्नरैः । बालस्त्रीभारतीबुद्ध्या बुद्धिकामैर्नरोत्तमैः

Transliteration

vṛddhānāṃ rudra buddhyā hi deyaṃ jñānārthibhirnaraiḥ | bālastrībhāratībuddhyā buddhikāmairnarottamaiḥ

Translation

Men who seek true knowledge should certainly make offerings to the elders, regarding them as Rudra Himself. And the best of men who desire refined understanding should give with the attitude that children, women, and the learned are to be honored as embodiments of sacred wisdom, Bhāratī.

Word by Word

• vṛddhānām: of the elders
• vṛddhānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Bahuvacana

• rudra: (as) Rudra
• rudra: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th) sense with buddhyā (instrumental of manner); used as first member in implied tatpuruṣa ‘rudra-buddhyā’

• buddhyā: with the notion/attitude
• buddhyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana; karaṇa of manner (भावे तृतीया)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• deyam: to be given/should be offered
• deyam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु) + yat (यत्)
• Form: Gerundive/obligatory participle (कृत्य/यत्), Napumsaka, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; impersonal predicate ‘should be given’

• jñāna-arthibhiḥ: by seekers of knowledge
• jñāna-arthibhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + arthin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘knowledge-seeking’; agent-instrumental (कर्तृ-तृतीया) with deyaṃ

• naraiḥ: by men
• naraiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; apposition to jñānārthibhiḥ

• bāla-strī-bhāratī-buddhyā: with the attitude (seeing them as) child, woman, and Bhāratī (Sarasvatī)
• bāla-strī-bhāratī-buddhyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāla (प्रातिपदिक) + strī (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāratī (प्रातिपदिक) + buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (iterated): ‘with the notion of (them as) child/woman/Sarasvatī’; manner-instrumental

• buddhi-kāmaiḥ: by those desiring wisdom
• buddhi-kāmaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक) + kāmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘desirous of intellect’; agent-instrumental

• nara-uttamaiḥ: by the best men
• nara-uttamaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘best of men’; apposition to buddhikāmaiḥ

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s dharma to the sages at Naimisharanya, inferred from Purana dialogue style in this section)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: As Viśveśvara/Viśvanātha, Śiva is honored as the indwelling Lord of all beings; this verse applies that vision ethically by seeing Rudra in elders and Bhāratī (sacred speech) in the vulnerable and the learned, making dāna a form of worship.

Significance: Cultivates Rudra-bhāva (seeing Śiva in beings), purifies intention behind dāna, and supports jñāna-bhakti as a lived discipline.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Bhāratī (Sarasvatī)

FAQs

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

It teaches Rudra-buddhi—seeing Shiva’s presence in the venerable and worthy—so that dāna (giving) becomes a purifier of ego and a support for jñāna, aligning conduct with devotion to Pati (Shiva).

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

While the Linga is the central Saguna focus of worship, this verse extends that same reverence into daily life: honoring elders and the truly learned as manifestations of Rudra and Bhāratī is a lived form of Shiva-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice dāna with mantra-bhāva: before giving, inwardly cultivate Rudra-buddhi (mentally offering to Shiva), and dedicate the merit to Lord Shiva—especially on Mondays or Mahashivratri as part of Shaiva vrata observance.