Shloka 11

पानीयदान-प्रपादान-वापीकूपतडाग-निर्माण-प्रशंसा

Praise of Water-Gift and the Construction of Wells and Tanks

Devanagari script

देवा मनुष्या गन्धर्वाः पितरो नागराक्षसाः । स्थावराणि च भूतानि संश्रयंति जलाशयम्

Transliteration

devā manuṣyā gandharvāḥ pitaro nāgarākṣasāḥ | sthāvarāṇi ca bhūtāni saṃśrayaṃti jalāśayam

Translation

देवा मनुष्या गन्धर्वाः पितरो नागराक्षसाः। स्थावराणि च भूतानि संश्रयन्ति जलाशयम्॥

Word by Word

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural)

• मनुष्याः: humans
• मनुष्याः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural)

• गन्धर्वाः: gandharvas
• गन्धर्वाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पितरः: manes, ancestors
• पितरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural); पितृ-शब्द (irregular stem)

• नागराक्षसाः: nāgas and rākṣasas
• नागराक्षसाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग + राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural); द्वन्द्वः (itaretara) — ‘nāgas and rākṣasas’

• स्थावराणि: immobile beings (plants etc.)
• स्थावराणि: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थावर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction/particle)

• भूतानि: beings
• भूतानि: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural)

• संश्रयन्ति: take refuge in, resort to
• संश्रयन्ति: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + श्रि (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• जलाशयम्: a water-reservoir, pond/lake
• जलाशयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल + आशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः — ‘water-reservoir’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General cosmological inclusivity: devas to rākṣasas, and even sthāvara beings, depend on jalāśaya—underscoring water as a cross-realm support within the three worlds.

Significance: Highlights that water-works serve all orders of beings; in pilgrimage settings, tanks are shared spaces where social and cosmic hierarchies are ritually harmonized.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: protective

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Humans
• Gandharvas
• Pitrs
• Nagas
• Rakshasas

FAQs

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

It presents a universal principle of āśraya (refuge): just as all classes of beings depend on water to sustain life, the soul (paśu) ultimately depends on the Lord (Pati—Shiva) for protection, purification, and liberation.

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

In Saguna Shiva worship, devotees approach tangible supports of grace—like the Linga and sacred tīrthas (water-bodies used for abhiṣeka and purification). The verse’s “taking refuge” parallels approaching the Linga as a visible sanctuary where Shiva’s compassion is accessed.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tīrtha-snān (purificatory bath) and jalā-abhisheka to the Shiva-Linga with mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), cultivating the inner attitude of seeking refuge in Shiva.