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Shloka 22

Kṣetra–Kāla–Phala-kramaḥ

Hierarchy of Sacred Place, Time, and Ritual Fruit

यत्सेवकाय दत्तं स्यात्तत्पादफलदं विदुः । जातिमात्रस्य विप्रस्य दीनवृत्तेर्द्विजर्षभाः

yatsevakāya dattaṃ syāttatpādaphaladaṃ viduḥ | jātimātrasya viprasya dīnavṛtterdvijarṣabhāḥ

द्विजश्रेष्ठ जाणतात की सेवकाला दिलेले दान त्याच्या पदानुसारच फळ देते. तसेच जो केवळ जन्माने ब्राह्मण असून दीनवृत्तीने जगतो, त्याला दिलेले दानही तदनुसार मर्यादित फळ देणारे ठरते.

यत्whatever (that which)
यत्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootyad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (correlative)
सेवकायto a servant
सेवकाय:
Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootsevaka (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन
दत्तम्given
दत्तम्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√dā (दा धातु) + kta (कृत्)
Formकृतान्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘given’
स्यात्would be, may be
स्यात्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√as (अस् धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
तत्that
तत्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘that’
पाद-फलदम्giving the fruit of (service at) the feet
पाद-फलदम्:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootpāda + phala + da (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (pādānāṃ phalaṃ dadāti iti / pāda-phala-da)
विदुःknow, consider
विदुः:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√vid (विद् धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन
जाति-मात्रस्यof one who is only (a brāhmaṇa) by birth
जाति-मात्रस्य:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootjāti + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (jātyā eva mātram—‘only by birth’)
विप्रस्यof a brāhmaṇa
विप्रस्य:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootvipra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन
दीन-वृत्तेःof one with a wretched livelihood
दीन-वृत्तेः:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootdīna + vṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (dīnā vṛttiḥ yasya / dīna-vṛtti)
द्विज-ऋषभाःthe best of the twice-born
द्विज-ऋषभाः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootdvija + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (dvijānām ṛṣabhāḥ)

Suta Goswami

Tattva Level: pashu

B
Brahmin
D
Dvijas

FAQs

It teaches discernment in dāna: the fruit of giving depends on the spiritual and ethical stature of the recipient, not merely social labels—encouraging Shaiva devotees to unite generosity with right understanding.

In Linga-worship, offerings and charity are meant to refine the devotee’s intention and purity; this verse aligns with Saguna Shiva devotion by stressing that external acts (like giving) must be guided by inner discrimination (viveka) to bear higher spiritual fruit.

Practice dāna as a Shaiva discipline: after japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), give with humility to worthy recipients or Shiva’s devotees, treating charity as an offering to Shiva rather than a social transaction.