Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 36

ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation

on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva

Devanagari script

भिक्षामात्रप्रदानेन तत्फलं शिवयोगिने । यज्ञाग्निहोत्रदानेन तीर्थहोमेषु यत्फलम्

Transliteration

bhikṣāmātrapradānena tatphalaṃ śivayogine | yajñāgnihotradānena tīrthahomeṣu yatphalam

Translation

ശിവയോഗിക്ക് വെറും ഭിക്ഷാമാത്രം നൽകിയാലും, യജ്ഞദാനവും അഗ്നിഹോത്രദാനവും തീർത്ഥങ്ങളിൽ ഹോമവും ചെയ്താൽ ലഭിക്കുന്ന അതേ പുണ്യഫലം ലഭിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• भिक्षामात्रप्रदानेन: by the giving of mere alms
• भिक्षामात्रप्रदानेन: करण (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा-मात्र-प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental) एकवचनम्; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः: भिक्षा + मात्र (केवल) + प्रदान (दान)

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; विशेषणरूपेण (qualifying फलम्)

• फलम्: fruit; result
• फलम्: विधेय (Predicate/result/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• शिवयोगिने: for the Śiva-yogin
• शिवयोगिने: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान/Dative) एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य योगी)

• यज्ञाग्निहोत्रदानेन: by giving (in) sacrifices and agnihotra offerings
• यज्ञाग्निहोत्रदानेन: करण (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ-अग्निहोत्र-दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental) एकवचनम्; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (यज्ञः च अग्निहोत्रं च—तयोः दानम्)

• तीर्थहोमेषु: in sacred-place oblations
• तीर्थहोमेषु: अधिकरण (Location/context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ-होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/Locative) बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (तीर्थेषु होमाः)

• यत्: which
• यत्: सम्बन्ध (Relative marker/यद्-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; सम्बन्धसूचक (that which)

• फलम्: fruit; result
• फलम्: विधेय (Result/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that humble charity offered to a Śiva-centered yogin carries immense spiritual merit—comparable to major Vedic sacrifices—because serving those established in Śiva is itself a form of Śiva-worship.

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

In Saguna Śiva devotion, honoring Śiva’s presence in His devotees is aligned with Linga-worship: the devotee becomes a living field of worship, and offering support to such a yogin is treated as an offering to Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice dāna with reverence—especially feeding or supporting Śiva-devotees and yogins—alongside regular Shaiva disciplines such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and daily worship.