Shloka 70
Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya
Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification
यावत्कालं यदन्नं वै भुक्त्वा श्रवणमेधते । तावत्कृतस्य पुण्यस्य त्वर्धं दातुर्न संशयः
yāvatkālaṃ yadannaṃ vai bhuktvā śravaṇamedhate | tāvatkṛtasya puṇyasya tvardhaṃ dāturna saṃśayaḥ
Selama mana makanan yang telah dimakan itu masih menyuburkan keupayaan untuk mendengar dan memahami ajaran suci, selama itulah separuh daripada pahala yang terhasil tanpa ragu menjadi milik pemberi (makanan) itu.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: In the Kāśī/Viśveśvara milieu, merit is amplified through śravaṇa (scriptural listening) and anna-dāna that sustains it; the donor shares in the listener’s dharma because the act supports jñāna-yajña centered on Viśveśvara.
Significance: Anna-dāna and support of śāstra-śravaṇa at Kāśī are taught as direct means to accrue puṇya and to become a participant in others’ spiritual progress (paropakāra), preparing the paśu for Śiva’s anugraha.
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It teaches that supporting a seeker’s spiritual nourishment—especially the capacity for śravaṇa (hearing sacred teachings)—creates enduring puṇya, and the donor shares directly in that merit as long as the gift continues to sustain spiritual understanding.
In Shaiva practice, devotion to Saguna Shiva (including Linga worship) is strengthened by śravaṇa of Shiva-kathā and āgamic teachings; annadāna that enables such listening becomes an indirect but powerful support to Shiva-bhakti, hence the donor partakes in the resulting merit.
Annadāna (offering food) to devotees, pilgrims, or listeners of Shiva Purana—especially on Mondays or Mahāśivarātri—so that they can engage in śravaṇa, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and Linga worship with steadiness.