Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 19

Kṣetra–Kāla–Phala-kramaḥ

Hierarchy of Sacred Place, Time, and Ritual Fruit

Devanagari script

दानं कर्तुं तथा त्रातुं पात्रं तु ब्राह्मणोर्हति । अन्नस्य क्षुधितं पात्रं नारीनरमयात्मकम्

Transliteration

dānaṃ kartuṃ tathā trātuṃ pātraṃ tu brāhmaṇorhati | annasya kṣudhitaṃ pātraṃ nārīnaramayātmakam

Translation

Đối với việc bố thí và cũng như che chở, Bà-la-môn là người thọ nhận xứng đáng. Nhưng đối với thức ăn, người thọ nhận đúng là kẻ đang đói, dù nữ hay nam, vì cơn đói là tình trạng chung của mọi hữu tình mang thân.

Word by Word

• dānam: gift; giving
• dānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kartum: to do; to perform
• kartum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु) + tumun (तुमुन्)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमन्त/तुमुनन्त), purpose sense (प्रयोजनार्थ)

• tathā: and likewise; also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• trātum: to protect; to save
• trātum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: trā (त्रा धातु) + tumun (तुमुन्)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमन्त/तुमुनन्त), purpose sense (प्रयोजनार्थ)

• pātram: a worthy recipient; vessel
• pātram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: but; indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis (तु-प्रयोग)

• brāhmaṇaḥ: a Brahmin
• brāhmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• arhati: is worthy; deserves
• arhati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (अर्ह् धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• annasya: of food
• annasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• kṣudhitam: hungry
• kṣudhitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣudh (क्षुध् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used adjectivally (विशेषण)

• pātram: recipient; vessel
• pātram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• nārī-nara-maya-ātmakam: having the nature of woman and man; consisting of women and men
• nārī-nara-maya-ātmakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nārī (प्रातिपदिक) + nara (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (मय-प्रत्यय, ‘consisting of’) + ātmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); compound used adjectivally (विशेषणसमास)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī’s Viśvanātha tradition strongly pairs Śiva with Annapūrṇā: feeding (anna-dāna) is upheld as direct compassion to embodied beings; this verse’s ‘hungry as the vessel for food’ echoes that Kāśī ethic.

Significance: Encourages anna-dāna as immediate dharma; in Kāśī, feeding pilgrims/poor is considered highly meritorious and supportive of Śiva’s anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

FAQs

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

It distinguishes dharmic discernment in giving: honoring spiritual responsibility (supporting the Brāhmaṇa and dharma) while affirming compassion as a Shaiva virtue through feeding the hungry, which purifies the heart and supports inner liberation.

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

In Linga-worship, devotion is completed by seva: offerings to Shiva culminate in care for beings. Feeding the hungry is treated as an extension of honoring Shiva’s presence in embodied life, aligning Saguna devotion with compassionate action.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice anna-dāna as a Shaiva observance—especially on Shiva days—while mentally offering the act to Shiva with the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating humility and compassion.