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
Al dar en caridad decenas de miles, según la debida medida, se llega a gozar del mundo de Viṣṇu. Pero al dar alimento por cientos de miles, se llega a gozar del mundo de 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.