Shloka 3

Mahādāna-prakaraṇa (The Doctrine of Great Gifts): Suvarṇa–Go–Bhūmi and Tulā-dāna

Devanagari script

सुवर्णदानं गोदानं पृथिवीदानमेव च । एतानि श्रेष्ठदानानि कृत्वा पापैः प्रमुच्यते

Transliteration

suvarṇadānaṃ godānaṃ pṛthivīdānameva ca | etāni śreṣṭhadānāni kṛtvā pāpaiḥ pramucyate

Translation

ทานทอง ทานโค และทานแผ่นดิน—สิ่งเหล่านี้ประกาศว่าเป็นทานอันประเสริฐยิ่ง ครั้นกระทำทานสูงสุดเช่นนี้แล้ว ย่อมพ้นจากบาปทั้งปวง

Word by Word

• सुवर्णदानम्: gift of gold
• सुवर्णदानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्ण + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• गोदानम्: gift of a cow
• गोदानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• पृथिवीदानम्: gift of land
• पृथिवीदानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एतानि: these
• एतानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• श्रेष्ठदानानि: excellent gifts/charities
• श्रेष्ठदानानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेष्ठ + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (श्रेष्ठानि दानानि)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• पापैः: from sins / by sins (as cause)
• पापैः: Apadana/Instrument (अपादान/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• प्रमुच्यते: is freed/released
• प्रमुच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (passive sense)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya, as typical for the Purana frame in the Umāsaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Declares ‘foremost gifts’ as sin-removing (pāpa-kṣaya). In Siddhānta, this is karmic lightening (kārma-mala attenuation) that supports eligibility for higher Śaiva practice and grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

FAQs

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

It teaches that certain high-impact acts of dāna (gold, cows, land) greatly reduce pāpa (sinful karmic burden), making the mind and life more fit for Shiva-bhakti and the dawning of Shiva’s grace that leads toward liberation.

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

In Saguna Shiva worship, outer dharma supports inner devotion: charitable giving becomes an offering aligned with Shiva’s order (dharma). By purifying conduct and intention, the devotee approaches Linga worship with greater sattva, humility, and steadiness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to pair dāna with Shiva-upāsanā—offer charity on auspicious Shaiva days (e.g., Mahashivratri or Mondays), while chanting the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and maintaining purity through simple vows and disciplined conduct.