Shloka 24

Mahādāna-prakaraṇa (The Doctrine of Great Gifts): Suvarṇa–Go–Bhūmi and Tulā-dāna

Devanagari script

यद्यदिष्टतमं लोके यदस्ति दयितं गृहे । तत्तद्गुणवते देयं तदेवाक्षयमिच्छता

Transliteration

yadyadiṣṭatamaṃ loke yadasti dayitaṃ gṛhe | tattadguṇavate deyaṃ tadevākṣayamicchatā

Translation

Lo que sea más preciado en el mundo y lo más amado en el propio hogar, quien anhele un fruto imperecedero debe ofrecerlo precisamente al virtuoso verdaderamente digno; pues tal don se vuelve inagotable.

Word by Word

• yat: whatever
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); correlating with ‘tat’

• yat: whatever (each)
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); repetition for distributive sense

• iṣṭatamam: most desired
• iṣṭatamam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: iṣṭa (कृदन्त; √iṣ/√i ‘to desire’, क्त) + tama (तमत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); superlative ‘most desired’

• loke: in the world
• loke: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• yat: whatever
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• asti: is/exists
• asti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• dayitam: dear/beloved
• dayitam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dayita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• gṛhe: in the house
• gṛhe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); correlative to ‘yat’

• tat: that (each)
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); repetition for distributive sense

• guṇavate: to the virtuous/meritorious person
• guṇavate: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• deyam: should be given
• deyam: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dā (धातु) → deya (कृदन्त; यत्)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); gerundive (कर्तव्यता) ‘to be given/should be given’

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (only/indeed)

• akṣayam: imperishable
• akṣayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective with ‘tat eva’

• icchatā: by one who desires
• icchatā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √iṣ (धातु) → icchant (कृदन्त; शतृ)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); present participle used substantively ‘by one who desires’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that real dāna is measured by inner sacrifice: offering what one truly values, to a worthy recipient, purifies attachment (pāśa) and yields akṣaya (imperishable) spiritual merit aligned with Shaiva dharma.

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

In Linga/Saguna Shiva worship, devotion is proven by surrender and generosity; giving one’s best to the deserving—especially in the context of Shiva-bhakti—becomes an offering to Shiva Himself, since serving the virtuous is upheld as service to the Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice intentional dāna: after chanting the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offer your best item (food, cloth, wealth, or service) to a worthy devotee or priest, mentally dedicating the act to Shiva for akṣaya-phala.