Shloka 31
शिवपुराण-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Śiva Purāṇa) / Śivapurāṇa Māhātmya
विप्रेभ्यो व्यासमुख्येभ्यो दत्त्वायत्फलमश्नुते । तत्फलं संभवेत्तस्य सत्यं सत्यं न संशयः
viprebhyo vyāsamukhyebhyo dattvāyatphalamaśnute | tatphalaṃ saṃbhavettasya satyaṃ satyaṃ na saṃśayaḥ
వ్యాసప్రధానులైన విప్రులకు దానం చేయడం వల్ల ఏ ఫలం లభిస్తుందో, అదే ఫలం దాతకు నిశ్చయంగా కలుగుతుంది—సత్యం, సత్యమే; సందేహం లేదు।
Sūta Gosvāmī
Tattva Level: pashu
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: As this is in the Viśveśvara-saṃhitā stream, the merit (puṇya) of dāna and śravaṇa is framed as leading toward Viśveśvara’s grace; Kāśī is portrayed in Śaiva tradition as the place where Śiva grants taraka-upadeśa and liberation, making gifts to worthy vipras especially efficacious.
Significance: Dāna to qualified brāhmaṇas/sages in a Śiva-kṣetra is said to mature quickly into puṇya and purification, supporting bhakti, śravaṇa, and eventual anugraha (grace).
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It affirms the certainty of puṇya (spiritual merit) gained through dāna to realized teachers and brāhmaṇas; such merit purifies the paśu (individual soul), supports dharma, and becomes a conducive cause for deepening Shiva-bhakti and moving toward liberation.
In the Vidyeśvara/Viśveśvara context, charity complements Saguna Shiva worship: offerings to the Linga are paired with supporting Shiva’s devotees and Vedic teachers, strengthening devotion and right living that make worship fruitful.
Perform dāna—especially to learned brāhmaṇas and teachers—alongside Shiva-pūjā; on observances like Mahāśivarātri, combine charity with mantra-japa (e.g., the Pañcākṣarī) and disciplined conduct for amplified spiritual benefit.