Shloka 4
पानीयदान-प्रपादान-वापीकूपतडाग-निर्माण-प्रशंसा
Praise of Water-Gift and the Construction of Wells and Tanks
अर्द्धं पापस्य हरति पुरुषस्य विकर्मणः । कूपः प्रवृत्तपानीयः सुप्रवृत्तस्य नित्यशः
arddhaṃ pāpasya harati puruṣasya vikarmaṇaḥ | kūpaḥ pravṛttapānīyaḥ supravṛttasya nityaśaḥ
ವಿಕರ್ಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಿದ್ದ ಪುರುಷನ ಪಾಪದ ಅರ್ಧವನ್ನು, ಹರಿಯುವ ಕುಡಿಯುವ ನೀರು ನೀಡುವ ಕೂಪು ಹರಣಮಾಡುತ್ತದೆ; ಮತ್ತು ಸದಾ ಧರ್ಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ಥಿರನಾದವನಿಗೆ ಅದೇ ಕೂಪು ನಿತ್ಯ ಪುಣ್ಯಕರವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.
Lord Shiva (in Umāsaṃhitā’s instructional discourse, narrated in the Purāṇic frame by Sūta to the sages)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Vaidyanātha
FAQs
It teaches that compassionate public service—especially making clean drinking water accessible—has strong purificatory power: it reduces pāpa for the misguided and continuously accumulates puṇya for the dharmic, reflecting Shaiva ethics of upliftment through right action.
In Saguna Shiva devotion, worship is not only temple-ritual but also Shiva-pleasing conduct (śiva-priya dharma). Acts that protect and sustain life, like providing water, are treated as offerings in spirit—akin to jalābhiṣeka—because they embody Shiva’s grace expressed as compassion.
Practice pānīya-dāna (offering/providing drinking water) as a regular vrata; mentally dedicate the act to Lord Shiva with the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” treating the service as a living abhiṣeka to Shiva present in all beings.