Shloka 16
पानीयदान-प्रपादान-वापीकूपतडाग-निर्माण-प्रशंसा
Praise of Water-Gift and the Construction of Wells and Tanks
मुने व्यासाथ वृक्षाणां रोपणे च गुणाञ्छृणु । प्रोक्तं जलाशयफलं जीवप्रीणनमुत्तमम्
mune vyāsātha vṛkṣāṇāṃ ropaṇe ca guṇāñchṛṇu | proktaṃ jalāśayaphalaṃ jīvaprīṇanamuttamam
முனி வியாசரே! இப்போது மரநடுகையின் நற்குணங்களையும் கேளுங்கள். நீர்த்தேக்கம் அமைப்பதன் பலன் மிக உயர்ந்தது என்று கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது; ஏனெனில் அது எல்லா உயிர்களையும் சிறப்பாகத் திருப்தி செய்து போஷிக்கிறது।
Lord Shiva (teaching Vyasa in the Uma Samhita context)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
FAQs
The verse elevates compassion-in-action as Shaiva dharma: serving and sustaining life (jīva-prīṇana) becomes a high form of merit, aligning the devotee with Shiva as Pati—the benevolent Lord who supports all beings.
Linga worship in the Shiva Purana is not only ritual but also ethical devotion; acts that sustain life—like planting trees or creating water sources—are treated as offerings to Saguna Shiva, the gracious Lord present in the welfare of all creatures.
A practical takeaway is to pair Shiva-puja (e.g., japa of Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with seva: planting trees and supporting water access as a living offering, dedicating the merit to Shiva for purification and upliftment.