Shloka 17

यममार्गे सुखदायकधर्माः

Dharmas that Grant Ease on the Path to Yama

Devanagari script

सर्वेषामेव दानानामन्नदानं परं स्मृतम् । सद्यः प्रीतिकरं हृद्यं बलबुद्धिविवर्धनम्

Transliteration

sarveṣāmeva dānānāmannadānaṃ paraṃ smṛtam | sadyaḥ prītikaraṃ hṛdyaṃ balabuddhivivardhanam

Translation

Unter allen Gaben gilt die Gabe von Speise als die höchste. Sie schenkt sogleich Freude, erfreut das Herz und mehrt Kraft und Klarheit des Verstehens.

Word by Word

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• एव: indeed
• एव: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis)

• दानानाम्: of gifts
• दानानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अन्नदानम्: gift of food
• अन्नदानम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अन्नस्य दानम्)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्मृतम्: is considered/remembered
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थे विधेय (predicative)

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Kāla (काल/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (immediately)

• प्रीतिकरम्: causing joy
• प्रीतिकरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीति + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयार्थ (प्रीतिं करोति इति)

• हृद्यम्: pleasing to the heart
• हृद्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• बलबुद्धिविवर्धनम्: increasing strength and intellect
• बलबुद्धिविवर्धनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल + बुद्धि + विवर्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समाहार/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (बलस्य बुद्धेश्च विवर्धनम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s dharmic teaching as preserved in the Umāsaṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse aligns with the Kāśī-Annapūrṇā/Viśveśvara ethos: sustaining beings through food as the foremost dāna; however no specific Jyotirliṅga is named here.

Significance: Frames annadāna as the most immediate, universally beneficial puṇya—supporting life and dharma; in Siddhānta, such puṇya purifies conduct and supports receptivity to Śiva-bhakti.

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 elevates annadāna (feeding others) as the foremost dharmic act because it directly sustains life and supports sattvic well-being—an outward expression of compassion aligned with Shaiva dharma.

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

In Saguna Shiva worship, offering food and supporting devotees mirrors service to Shiva present in all beings; annadāna becomes a practical extension of pūjā, turning devotion into compassionate action.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform annadāna as a vow (vrata)—especially on Shiva days—by offering naivedya and then feeding devotees and the needy, while mentally dedicating the merit to Lord Shiva with the Panchakshara spirit of surrender.