Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 46

नन्दाव्रत-समाप्तिः तथा शङ्करस्य प्रत्यक्ष-दर्शनम्

Completion of the Nandā-vrata and Śiva’s Direct Appearance

Devanagari script

द्रव्यं ददौ द्विजातिभ्यो यथाभीष्टमुदारधीः । अन्येभ्यश्चांधदीनेभ्यो वीरिणी च महामनाः

Transliteration

dravyaṃ dadau dvijātibhyo yathābhīṣṭamudāradhīḥ | anyebhyaścāṃdhadīnebhyo vīriṇī ca mahāmanāḥ

Translation

那位心地高贵、慧解慷慨的夫人，按诸“二生者”（dvija）各自所愿施与财物；而这位大心之人亦向他人布施——施与盲者与贫乏困顿者。

Word by Word

• द्रव्यम्: wealth, goods
• द्रव्यम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; धातुः √दा (to give)

• द्विजातिभ्यः: to the twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• द्विजातिभ्यः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/to whom)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि-जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (द्विजाः जातयः/द्विजातयः = twice-born classes)

• यथा-अभीष्टम्: as desired
• यथा-अभीष्टम्: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण/manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + अभीष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial: as desired)

• उदारधीः: of generous mind
• उदारधीः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदार-धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण; कर्मधारय-समासः (उदारा धीः यस्य सः)

• अन्येभ्यः: to others
• अन्येभ्यः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/to whom)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• अन्ध-दीनेभ्यः: to the blind and the poor
• अन्ध-दीनेभ्यः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/to whom)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्ध + दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (अन्धाः च दीनाः च)

• वीरिणी: Vīriṇī (name)
• वीरिणी: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• महामनाः: great-souled
• महामनाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण; बहुव्रीहि-समासः (महान् मनः यस्य सः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

FAQs

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

The verse highlights dāna as a Shaiva dharmic virtue: generosity and compassion purify the mind (antaḥkaraṇa) and support devotion, aligning the soul (paśu) toward Shiva (Pati) by loosening karmic bonds (pāśa).

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

In Purāṇic Shaiva practice, worship of Saguna Shiva is supported by ethical living—especially charity and care for the vulnerable. Such dāna is treated as an offering in spirit, preparing the devotee for more fruitful Linga worship through humility and purity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to combine Shiva worship with dāna: after japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple Linga pūjā, give food/aid to the needy (especially the poor, blind, and distressed) as a devotional act.