Shloka 17

पानीयदान-प्रपादान-वापीकूपतडाग-निर्माण-प्रशंसा

Praise of Water-Gift and the Construction of Wells and Tanks

Devanagari script

अतीतानागतान्सर्वान्पितृवंशांस्तु तारयेत् । कांतारे वृक्षरोपी यस्तस्माद्वृक्षांस्तु रोपयेत्

Transliteration

atītānāgatānsarvānpitṛvaṃśāṃstu tārayet | kāṃtāre vṛkṣaropī yastasmādvṛkṣāṃstu ropayet

Translation

Quien planta árboles en la espesura o en el yermo libera a toda la estirpe de los antepasados—tanto a los ya idos como a los que aún han de venir. Por ello, ciertamente se deben plantar árboles.

Word by Word

• अतीतान्: past (ones)
• अतीतान्: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: atīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• अनागतान्: future (ones)
• अनागतान्: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anāgata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• पितृ-वंशान्: lines of ancestors
• पितृ-वंशान्: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + vaṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘पितॄणां वंशान्’

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्धक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/विशेषार्थक (particle: ‘indeed/but’)

• तारयेत्: should deliver/save
• तारयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tṝ (धातु) (तारयति-णिच्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative sense): ‘should cause to cross/save’

• कान्तारे: in a wilderness/forest tract
• कान्तारे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāntāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरणम्

• वृक्ष-रोपी: a tree-planter
• वृक्ष-रोपी: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ropin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: ‘वृक्षान् रोपयति इति’ (tree-planter)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ya (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that (reason)
• तस्मात्: Apādāna (अपादान/पञ्चमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादानार्थे (ablative)

• वृक्षान्: trees
• वृक्षान्: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्धक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विशेषार्थक

• रोपयेत्: should plant
• रोपयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √rup/√rop (धातु) (रोपयति-णिच्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच् (causative): ‘should plant’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs (ancestors)

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that compassionate dharmic service—here, planting trees for the benefit of all beings—creates powerful puṇya that supports and uplifts one’s ancestral line, aligning the devotee with Shiva’s grace through selfless welfare.

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

In Shaiva practice, external worship of the Liṅga is completed by lived dharma. Planting trees becomes an offering of sustenance to the world (jagat-sevā), a Saguna expression of devotion that pleases Shiva, the Lord of all beings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical vrata-like takeaway is to plant and nurture trees as a devotional act—ideally alongside Shiva worship such as pañcākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and simple charity dedicated to the Pitrs.