Shloka 9

पानीयदान-प्रपादान-वापीकूपतडाग-निर्माण-प्रशंसा

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

Devanagari script

धर्मस्यार्थस्य कामस्य फलमाहुर्मनीषिणः । तडागं सुकृते येन तस्य पुण्यमनन्तकम्

Transliteration

dharmasyārthasya kāmasya phalamāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ | taḍāgaṃ sukṛte yena tasya puṇyamanantakam

Translation

தர்மம், அர்த்தம், காமம் ஆகியவற்றிற்கு பலன் தருவது தடாகம் என ஞானிகள் கூறுவர். புண்ணியமாக தடாகம் அமைப்பவனுக்கு அளவற்ற புண்ணியம் உண்டாகும்.

Word by Word

• धर्मस्य: of dharma (righteousness)
• धर्मस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• अर्थस्य: of artha (wealth/purpose)
• अर्थस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• कामस्य: of kāma (desire)
• कामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• फलम्: fruit, result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• आहुः: they say
• आहुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect tense (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• मनीषिणः: the wise
• मनीषिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनीषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• तडागम्: a pond
• तडागम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तडाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• सुकृते: as a meritorious act
• सुकृते: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; purpose/occasion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); adverbial locative ‘as a good deed/for merit’

• येन: by whom/whereby
• येन: Karaṇa (करण; means/agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• पुण्यम्: merit
• पुण्यम्: Karta (कर्ता; subject/predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• अनन्तकम्: endless, infinite
• अनन्तकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); adjective to ‘पुण्यम्’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that loka-hita (public welfare) done as dharma—such as providing water through a pond—yields enduring punya that supports both worldly harmony (artha, kāma) and inner purification, which in Shaiva Siddhanta helps loosen pāśa (bondage) and prepares the soul for Shiva’s grace.

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

Water is central to Śiva-upāsanā through abhiṣeka and offerings; supporting water sources is an outward extension of Linga worship—serving living beings while honoring Saguna Shiva as the indwelling Lord (Pati) present in all.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is jaladāna and seva: contribute to water-service (digging/maintaining ponds, wells), and pair it with simple Shiva devotion—Pañcākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and offering water to the Linga with a compassionate intention.