Shloka 40

Kṣetra–Kāla–Phala-kramaḥ

Hierarchy of Sacred Place, Time, and Ritual Fruit

Devanagari script

शुक्लप्रतिग्रहाद्दत्तं मध्यमं द्रव्यमुच्यते । कृषिवाणिज्यकोपेतमधमं द्रव्यमुच्यते

Transliteration

śuklapratigrahāddattaṃ madhyamaṃ dravyamucyate | kṛṣivāṇijyakopetamadhamaṃ dravyamucyate

Translation

A gift offered from wealth gained through pure and righteous acceptance is called a “middling offering.” But wealth bound up with agriculture and trade is declared to be an “inferior substance” for gifting.

Word by Word

• śukla-pratigrahāt: from pure acceptance (of gifts)
• śukla-pratigrahāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + pratigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय-प्रायः): śuklaḥ pratigrahaḥ ‘pure/white acceptance (of gifts)’; Ablative of source (अपादान)

• dattam: given
• dattam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dā (दा, धातु) → datta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (क्त/ktá), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; agrees with dravyam

• madhyamam: middling
• madhyamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; predicate adjective qualifying dravyam

• dravyam: wealth/property
• dravyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dravya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; subject of ucyate

• ucyate: is called
• ucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्, धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्/Laṭ), Passive voice (कर्मणि प्रयोग), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; ‘is said/called’

• kṛṣi-vāṇijya-upetam: endowed with agriculture and trade
• kṛṣi-vāṇijya-upetam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + vāṇijya (प्रातिपदिक) + upeta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; upeta = PPP (क्त) of √i/√gam with upa- ‘endowed with’; compound: kṛṣi-vāṇijya (द्वन्द्व-भावार्थ/समाहार-प्रायः) used as prior member + upeta (तत्पुरुष)

• adhamam: lowest
• adhamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; predicate adjective qualifying dravyam

• dravyam: wealth/property
• dravyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dravya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; subject of ucyate

• ucyate: is called
• ucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्, धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Passive (कर्मणि), 3rd person, Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Warns that mixed or desire-entangled means can veil (tirodhāna) the full merit of giving; encourages discernment so worship is not obscured by economic entanglements.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the spiritual fruit of dāna depends not only on the act of giving but also on the purity of the means by which the wealth was obtained; offerings aligned with dharma support inner purification and devotion to Pati (Shiva).

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

Linga-worship emphasizes śuddhi (purity) in materials and intent; this verse frames the offering to Saguna Shiva as ethically conditioned—what is offered should be as sattvic and dharmic as possible for the worship to become a true upacāra.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Before pūjā or charity—especially on Mahāśivarātri—offer only honestly acquired, sattvic resources, and pair the act with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as a discipline of inner and outer purity.