Shloka 35

यममार्गे सुखदायकधर्माः

Dharmas that Grant Ease on the Path to Yama

Devanagari script

नाभिनिंदेदधिगतं न प्रणुद्यात्कथंचन । अपि श्वपाके शुनि वा नान्नदानं प्रणश्यति

Transliteration

nābhiniṃdedadhigataṃ na praṇudyātkathaṃcana | api śvapāke śuni vā nānnadānaṃ praṇaśyati

Translation

One should not disparage what has been rightly learned, nor should one ever reject it. Even if food is given to a dog or to a dog‑eater (an outcaste), the merit of offering food does not perish.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-avyaya (निषेध/negative particle)

• abhiniṃdet: should not blame/censure
• abhiniṃdet: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√nind (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ-lakāra (विधिलिङ्/Optative), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष/3rd person), Eka-vacana (एकवचन/Singular)

• adhigatam: what has been obtained
• adhigatam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhi-√gam (धातु)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya (क्त/PPP used substantively), Napumsaka-liṅga (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (द्वितीया), Eka-vacana (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-avyaya (निषेध/negative particle)

• praṇudyāt: should not drive away/repel
• praṇudyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√nud (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ-lakāra (विधिलिङ्/Optative), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष/3rd person), Eka-vacana (एकवचन/Singular)

• kathaṃcana: in any way/at all
• kathaṃcana: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kathaṃcana (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय/indefinite adverb), manner

• api: even
• api: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (निपात/particle), concessive

• śvapāke: in/with a dog-cooker (outcaste)
• śvapāke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śvapāka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग/Masculine), Saptamī-vibhakti (सप्तमी/Locative), Eka-vacana (एकवचन/Singular)

• śuni: in/with a dog
• śuni: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग/Masculine), Saptamī-vibhakti (सप्तमी/Locative), Eka-vacana (एकवचन/Singular)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-nipāta (विकल्प/alternative particle)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-avyaya (निषेध/negative particle)

• annadānam: gift of food; food-donation
• annadānam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna + dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga (नपुंसकलिङ्ग/Neuter), Prathamā-vibhakti (प्रथमा/Nominative), Eka-vacana (एकवचन/Singular)

• praṇaśyati: perishes/is destroyed
• praṇaśyati: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√naś (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष/3rd person), Eka-vacana (एकवचन/Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva dharma teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Āghoramūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: The verse universalizes annadāna beyond caste boundaries, implying Śiva’s all-pervasive acceptance of compassionate acts; such non-discriminatory giving weakens pāśa (social aversion/ego) and supports spiritual maturation.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

FAQs

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

It teaches that true dharma preserves sacred learning and practices compassion: the merit of anna-dāna is intrinsically purifying and is not nullified by the recipient’s social status.

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

In Shaiva dharma, service and offering (upacāra) to beings is aligned with honoring Shiva as Pati present in all; feeding others supports inner purity (śuddhi) that steadies Linga-worship and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice anna-dāna as a regular vrata—offer food respectfully without contempt, while mentally dedicating the act to Shiva (Śivārpaṇa-buddhi), supporting bhakti and purification.