Shloka 10

यममार्गे सुखदायकधर्माः

Dharmas that Grant Ease on the Path to Yama

Devanagari script

द्योतयंतो दिशस्सर्वा यांति दीपप्रदायिनः । प्रतिश्रयप्रदानेन सुखं यांति निरामयाः

Transliteration

dyotayaṃto diśassarvā yāṃti dīpapradāyinaḥ | pratiśrayapradānena sukhaṃ yāṃti nirāmayāḥ

Translation

Those who offer lamps go forth, illumining all the directions. By granting shelter to others, they attain happiness and remain free from illness—through the merit that upholds dharma and pleases Lord Śiva.

Word by Word

• द्योतयन्तः: shining/illuminating
• द्योतयन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्योतय् (धातु √द्योत्, णिच्)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Present active participle, शतृ), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदी-कर्तरि प्रयोग

• दिशः: the directions
• दिशः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd) बहुवचन (or प्रथमा बहुवचन—contextually object); here as कर्म

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd) बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) of दिशः

• यान्ति: go/attain
• यान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु √या)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• दीप-प्रदायिनः: givers of lamps
• दीप-प्रदायिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘दीपस्य प्रदायिनः’; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• प्रतिश्रय-प्रदानेन: by the giving of shelter
• प्रतिश्रय-प्रदानेन: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिश्रय (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘प्रतिश्रयस्य प्रदानम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/हेतु-भाव

• सुखम्: happiness/comfort
• सुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (accusative of manner/result)

• यान्ति: go/attain
• यान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु √या)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• निरामयाः: free from disease/affliction
• निरामयाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरामय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) of दीपप्रदायिनः

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General merit teaching: dīpa-dāna (lamp-gift) symbolizes jñāna-prakāśa; shelter-giving (pratiśraya) embodies protection—both yield well-being and freedom from illness as karmaphala.

Significance: Lamp-offering is widely practiced in Śiva temples (esp. pradoṣa); shelter-giving aligns with Śiva as Āśutoṣa who quickly responds to compassionate acts.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that acts which remove darkness for others—like dīpa-dāna and giving shelter—generate puṇya that supports dharma, reduces suffering, and prepares the soul (paśu) for Śiva’s grace and inner clarity.

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

Lamp-offering is a classic upacāra in Saguna Śiva worship (including Liṅga-pūjā). The verse extends that ritual spirit into daily life: serving beings becomes an offering to Śiva, the Lord of all.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform dīpa-dāna (offering or donating lamps) and practice atithi-sevā (providing shelter/assistance), while mentally dedicating the act to Śiva with the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”