Shloka 5
पुराणविदः महिमा तथा अध्ययन-अध्यापन-दानफलम्
The Glory of the Purāṇa-Knower and the Fruits of Study, Teaching, and Giving
सर्वेषां चैव पात्राणां मध्ये श्रेष्ठः पुराणवित् । पतनात्त्रायते यस्मात्तस्मात्पात्रमुदाहृतम्
sarveṣāṃ caiva pātrāṇāṃ madhye śreṣṭhaḥ purāṇavit | patanāttrāyate yasmāttasmātpātramudāhṛtam
Di antara semua penerima yang layak, sang paham Purāṇa adalah yang terbaik; karena ia menyelamatkan dari kejatuhan rohani, maka dialah ‘pātra’ sejati.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Significance: Defines the purāṇa-vit as the सर्वोत्तम ‘pātra’ because he ‘saves from falling’; in Siddhānta this is the function of the Lord’s grace working through the guru who rescues paśu from pāśa-driven patana (downfall).
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It teaches that sacred giving and transmission of Shaiva wisdom should be directed to a truly qualified person—one grounded in Purāṇic truth—because such knowledge protects the soul from ‘patana’ (ethical and spiritual decline) and supports liberation.
Purāṇa-knowledge includes right understanding of Shiva’s Saguna grace through the Liṅga and right practice; a learned devotee preserves correct doctrine and ritual, ensuring worship remains aligned with Shiva’s liberating intent rather than becoming merely external.
The takeaway is to seek instruction and offer support (dāna/sevā) to a competent Shaiva teacher or devotee who knows the Purāṇas, and to practice devotion with right understanding—especially japa of Shiva’s names (e.g., Panchākṣarī) under proper guidance.