Shloka 69
Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya
Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification
जलं चैव सदा देयमन्नं क्षुद्व्याधिशांतये । क्षेत्रं धान्यं तथाऽऽमान्नमन्नमेवं चतुर्विधम्
jalaṃ caiva sadā deyamannaṃ kṣudvyādhiśāṃtaye | kṣetraṃ dhānyaṃ tathā''mānnamannamevaṃ caturvidham
พึงให้น้ำเสมอ และพึงให้อาหารเพื่อระงับความหิวและโรคภัย อีกทั้งที่ดิน ธัญญาหาร และเสบียงดิบ—ดังนี้ทานแห่งอาหารมีสี่ประการ.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Kāśī’s Annapūrṇā tradition complements Viśvanātha worship: feeding (anna-dāna) and water-giving are treated as direct welfare acts under Śiva’s lordship, sustaining pilgrims and seekers.
Significance: Anna-dāna and jala-dāna are classic pilgrim merits in Kāśī; they purify the giver, relieve suffering, and support dharma—preparing the soul for Śiva’s grace.
Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It teaches that compassion expressed through dāna—especially relieving hunger and illness—is a direct Shaiva virtue, purifying the giver and supporting dharma, which becomes a foundation for bhakti and inner clarity.
In Saguna Shiva worship, offerings are not limited to ritual at the Liṅga; serving living beings through water and food-gifts is treated as service to Shiva’s manifested presence in the world, complementing temple worship.
The practical takeaway is jaladāna and annadāna—giving water and food (including grain, land for cultivation, or uncooked provisions) as a regular vow, especially on Shiva days, alongside mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī.