Shloka 21
पानीयदान-प्रपादान-वापीकूपतडाग-निर्माण-प्रशंसा
Praise of Water-Gift and the Construction of Wells and Tanks
पुष्पिताः फलवंतश्च तर्पयंतीह मानवान् । इह लोके परे चैव पुत्रास्ते धर्मतः स्मृताः
puṣpitāḥ phalavaṃtaśca tarpayaṃtīha mānavān | iha loke pare caiva putrāste dharmataḥ smṛtāḥ
పుష్పించి ఫలించే ధర్మకర్మలు ఇహలోకంలో మనుష్యులను తృప్తిపరచును; ధర్మనియమముచే అవే ఇహలోకమునూ పరలోకమునూ ‘పుత్రులు’గా స్మరింపబడును।
Suta Goswami (narrating the Purāṇic teaching to the sages, as typical of the Shiva Purana’s discourse style)
Tattva Level: pashu
Significance: Frames dharmic merit (puṇya) as ‘spiritual progeny’ that supports the soul beyond death—an ethical underpinning for tīrtha-yātrā, dāna, and sevā often praised at Jyotirliṅga sites.
FAQs
It teaches that righteous, beneficial actions are a form of spiritual lineage—‘sons’ that sustain one’s honor and welfare here and continue as merit after death, aligning life with Dharma under Shiva’s moral order.
In Shaiva practice, Linga worship is not isolated ritualism; it must flower into dharmic conduct and compassion. Such fruit-bearing devotion becomes enduring merit, supporting the devotee in both worlds.
Offer worship to Shiva with the intention that devotion becomes ‘fruit-bearing’—regular japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and acts of charity/service that genuinely benefit others.