Shloka 23

Devanagari script

श्रद्दधानाय दातव्यं भक्तियुक्ताय धीमते । अनास्तिकाय शुद्धाय धर्मनित्याय भामिनि

Transliteration

śraddadhānāya dātavyaṃ bhaktiyuktāya dhīmate | anāstikāya śuddhāya dharmanityāya bhāmini

Translation

麗しき者よ、これは信を具え、バクティに結ばれ、識別の智ある者に授けるべきである。無神の否定を離れ、行い清浄にして、常にダルマに堅住する者に。

Word by Word

• श्रद्दधानाय: to the faithful one
• श्रद्दधानाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रद् + धा (धातु) + शानच् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle, परस्मैपद-परंपरा), ‘श्रद्दधान’ (having faith); पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• दातव्यम्: should be given
• दातव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive/भाव्य: ‘to be given’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय (predicative obligation)

• भक्तियुक्ताय: to one endowed with devotion
• भक्तियुक्ताय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति + युक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: ‘endowed with devotion’); पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• धीमते: to the intelligent one
• धीमते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• अनास्तिकाय: to the non-atheist (believer)
• अनास्तिकाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + नास्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक (negated)

• शुद्धाय: to the pure one
• शुद्धाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• धर्मनित्याय: to one steadfast in righteousness
• धर्मनित्याय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: ‘constant in dharma’); पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• भामिनि: O radiant lady
• भामिनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भामिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, संबोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that charity becomes spiritually effective when offered with discernment—directed toward a faithful, devotional, pure, and dharma-established recipient—so the act supports sattva and aligns the giver with Shiva’s grace.

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

Linga-worship emphasizes inner and outer purity, faith, and devotion; this verse applies the same standard to dana, indicating that offerings connected to Shiva’s worship should be guided by śraddhā, bhakti, and dharmic integrity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice dana with śraddhā and bhakti—ideally after purificatory observances (such as bhasma/tripundra and mantra-japa like the Panchakshara, Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and offer to dharmic, pure, and devoted persons.