Shloka 1
ब्रह्माण्डदान-प्रशंसा तथा ब्रह्माण्ड-प्रमाण-वर्णनम्
Praise of the Gift of the Cosmic Egg and Description of the Brahmāṇḍa’s Measure
व्यास उवाच । येनैकेन हि दत्तेन सर्वेषां प्राप्यते फलम् । दानानां तन्ममाख्या हि मानुषाणां हितार्थतः
vyāsa uvāca | yenaikena hi dattena sarveṣāṃ prāpyate phalam | dānānāṃ tanmamākhyā hi mānuṣāṇāṃ hitārthataḥ
ویاس نے کہا—جس ایک ہی دان سے تمام دانوں کا پورا پھل حاصل ہوتا ہے، میں انسانوں کی بھلائی کے لیے اب وہ بیان کرتا ہوں۔
Vyasa
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
It introduces a Shaiva teaching that among many charitable acts, there is a single, most potent offering whose merit can encompass the fruits of all other gifts—meant to guide humans toward dharma and spiritual uplift.
In the Uma Samhita’s devotional-philosophical setting, “the one gift” is typically framed as an offering made with Shiva-bhakti (often directed to Shiva’s worship, devotees, or sacred institutions), where intention and devotion elevate the act beyond ordinary charity.
The verse sets up guidance on a highest form of dana; in Shaiva practice this is commonly paired with Shiva-oriented devotion—such as offering with mantra (e.g., the Panchakshara) and a pure intention—rather than prescribing a specific item like rudraksha or bhasma in this line itself.