Shloka 11

Mahādāna-prakaraṇa (The Doctrine of Great Gifts): Suvarṇa–Go–Bhūmi and Tulā-dāna

Devanagari script

पृथ्वीदानं महाश्रेष्ठं सर्वकामफलप्रदम् । सौवर्णं च विशेषेण यत्कृतं पृथुना पुरा

Transliteration

pṛthvīdānaṃ mahāśreṣṭhaṃ sarvakāmaphalapradam | sauvarṇaṃ ca viśeṣeṇa yatkṛtaṃ pṛthunā purā

Translation

भूमिदान हे महाश्रेष्ठ असून सर्व इच्छित फल देणारे आहे. विशेषतः सुवर्णासहित भूमिदान—जसे प्राचीनकाळी राजा पृथूने केले—अत्यंत पुण्यकारक आहे.

Word by Word

• पृथ्वी-दानम्: gift of land
• पृथ्वी-दानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथ्वी (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘पृथ्व्याः दानम्’ (gift of land/earth)

• महा-श्रेष्ठम्: very excellent
• महा-श्रेष्ठम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘महच्च तत् श्रेष्ठं च’

• सर्व-काम-फल-प्रदम्: granting the fruits of all desires
• सर्व-काम-फल-प्रदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘सर्वेषां कामानां फलप्रदम्’ (giver of fruits of all desires)

• सौवर्णम्: golden (made of gold)
• सौवर्णम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अण् (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तद्धित-निर्मित (golden/made of gold)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभाव (adverbial instrumental), अर्थः ‘especially/in particular’

• यत्: which
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम (relative)

• कृतम्: done/made
• कृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘यत्’ इत्यस्य विधेय

• पृथुना: by Pṛthu
• पृथुना: Kartr-karana (कर्तृ-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; कर्तृ-करणे (by Pṛthu)

• पुरा: formerly/once
• पुरा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; it praises pṛthvī-dāna (land-gift), especially ‘gold-associated’ land donation, citing King Pṛthu as archetype of righteous kingship and dharmic prosperity.

Significance: General: land-gift is framed as sarva-kāma-phala-prada—supporting social-religious sustenance (sthiti) and accruing puṇya conducive to Śiva’s favor.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Pṛthu

FAQs

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

It elevates dāna (charitable giving) as a dharmic purifier: offering land—especially with a golden component—supports beings and sacred works, converting personal aims into merit that can be oriented toward Shiva (Pati) and spiritual upliftment.

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

In Shaiva practice, dāna is an auxiliary limb of devotion: gifts that sustain temples, worship, and dependents become offerings to Saguna Shiva’s order (dharma), strengthening bhakti and right conduct alongside Linga-pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform charity with sankalpa and purity—ideally in Shiva-related contexts (temple service, feeding devotees, supporting worship)—and mentally dedicate the merit to Lord Shiva while reciting the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”