Shloka 4
यममार्गे सुखदायकधर्माः
Dharmas that Grant Ease on the Path to Yama
यः प्रदद्याद् द्विजेन्द्राणामुपानत्काष्ठपादुके । स नरोऽश्वेन महता सुखं याति यमालयम्
yaḥ pradadyād dvijendrāṇāmupānatkāṣṭhapāduke | sa naro'śvena mahatā sukhaṃ yāti yamālayam
Whoever offers to the foremost of the twice-born (brāhmaṇas) footwear—sandals or wooden slippers—such a person journeys in comfort to Yama’s abode, mounted upon a great horse.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It teaches that compassionate charity (dāna) done to worthy recipients becomes dharma that refines karma; even the soul’s post-death passage is described as eased, indicating the purifying power of selfless giving under Shiva’s moral order (Pati guiding beings through dharma).
While not directly describing Liṅga-pūjā, it supports Saguna Shiva devotion through practical dharma: service and charity offered in a Shiva-aligned life purify the devotee, preparing the mind for Shiva-bhakti and higher realization beyond bondage (pāśa).
A clear takeaway is dāna—specifically gifting footwear/pādukās to learned brāhmaṇas—as a supportive Shaiva practice; it may be paired with simple Shiva remembrance such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while dedicating the act to Lord Shiva.