Shloka 29

यममार्गे सुखदायकधर्माः

Dharmas that Grant Ease on the Path to Yama

Devanagari script

अन्नमेव प्रशंसंति सर्वमेव प्रतिष्ठितम् । अन्नेन सदृशं दानं न भूतं न भविष्यति

Transliteration

annameva praśaṃsaṃti sarvameva pratiṣṭhitam | annena sadṛśaṃ dānaṃ na bhūtaṃ na bhaviṣyati

Translation

They praise food alone, for everything is established upon food. No gift equal to the gift of food has existed in the past, nor will it exist in the future.

Word by Word

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/alone
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• प्रशंसन्ति: they praise
• प्रशंसन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथम), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• प्रतिष्ठितम्: is established
• प्रतिष्ठितम्: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय (predicate)

• अन्नेन: by/with food
• अन्नेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrumental)

• सदृशम्: equal/similar
• सदृशम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying 'दानम्')

• दानम्: a gift/charity
• दानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• भूतम्: has been (in the past)
• भूतम्: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; 'अस्ति' लुप्त, कालवाचक (what has been)

• न: nor
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• भविष्यति: will be
• भविष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future/लृट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथम), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching of dharma to the sages at Naimisharanya within the Umāsaṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

FAQs

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

It declares anna-dāna (feeding others) as the highest practical dharma because all embodied life is sustained by food; supporting life becomes a direct act of compassion that purifies bondage (pāśa) and nurtures devotion.

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

In Saguna Shiva worship, devotion is expressed not only through offerings to the Liṅga but also through service to Shiva’s beings; feeding devotees, guests, and the needy is treated as worship (sevā) that honors Shiva as the indwelling Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform anna-dāna—feed guests, pilgrims, ascetics, and the poor—ideally after Shiva-pūjā, while repeating the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and dedicating the merit to Lord Shiva.