Shloka 36

यममार्गे सुखदायकधर्माः

Dharmas that Grant Ease on the Path to Yama

Devanagari script

श्रांतायादृष्टपूर्वाय ह्यन्नमध्वनि वर्तते । यो दद्यादपरिक्लिष्टं स समृद्धिमवाप्नुयात

Transliteration

śrāṃtāyādṛṣṭapūrvāya hyannamadhvani vartate | yo dadyādaparikliṣṭaṃ sa samṛddhimavāpnuyāta

Translation

For one who is weary and unknown—a stranger upon the road—food is truly a support on the journey. Whoever gives such a person food without causing hardship or distress shall attain prosperity.

Word by Word

• श्रान्ताय: to the tired (person)
• श्रान्ताय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रान्त (धातु √श्रम्, क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण

• अदृष्टपूर्वाय: to one not seen before (a stranger)
• अदृष्टपूर्वाय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अदृष्ट + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक; अदृष्ट = धातु √दृश्, क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (अदृष्टः पूर्वः यस्य/यः)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/अवधारणार्थ

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अध्वनि: on the road, in travel
• अध्वनि: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• वर्तते: is found/exists, is available
• वर्तते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अपरिक्लिष्टम्: untroubled, without hardship (i.e., readily)
• अपरिक्लिष्टम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ- + परिक्लिष्ट (धातु √क्लिश् + परि-उपसर्ग, क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• समृद्धिम्: prosperity
• समृद्धिम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• अवाप्नुयात्: would attain
• अवाप्नुयात्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + √आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग अव-

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana teaching on dharma and charity)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Annadāna to a weary traveler is treated as dharma that ripens into worldly prosperity (samṛddhi) and supportive karmic conditions for sādhana.

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 teaches annadāna (the gift of food) as a high dharma: relieving another’s fatigue on the journey purifies one’s conduct and brings samṛddhi (well-being and auspicious increase), aligning the giver with Shiva’s compassionate nature.

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

In Shaiva practice, serving living beings—especially the distressed—supports Linga-worship by expressing devotion as compassionate action; honoring Shiva as the indwelling Lord (Pati) is reflected in feeding the hungry without burdening them.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Annadāna as a vrata-like practice—especially on Shiva days—offered with a pure intention while remembering Shiva (e.g., silent japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and giving in a way that does not embarrass or trouble the recipient.