Shloka 40
यममार्गे सुखदायकधर्माः
Dharmas that Grant Ease on the Path to Yama
अन्नदस्य च वृक्षाश्च सर्वकामफलान्विताः । भवंतीह यथा विप्रा हर्षयुक्तास्त्रिविष्टपे
annadasya ca vṛkṣāśca sarvakāmaphalānvitāḥ | bhavaṃtīha yathā viprā harṣayuktāstriviṣṭape
For the giver of food, even the trees here become endowed with the fruits of every desired enjoyment; just so do the blessed Brahmins, filled with joy, flourish hereafter in the heavenly worlds.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Annadāna is portrayed as generative abundance: nature itself (trees) becomes ‘sarva-kāma-phala’ for the donor—an image of dharmic prosperity that supports continued worship and service.
Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā
Role: creative
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
The verse extols annadāna (giving food) as a Shaiva virtue that ripens into abundant, wish-fulfilling merit—symbolized by “trees bearing all fruits”—and leads to joyful upliftment in higher worlds, aligning compassion and duty with spiritual progress.
In Saguna Shiva worship, devotion is expressed not only through ritual to the Linga but also through dharmic conduct; annadāna becomes an offering in Shiva’s economy of grace, honoring Shiva as the indwelling Lord (Pati) who accepts service rendered to beings and devotees.
Practice annadāna as a regular vow—especially on Shiva worship days—while reciting the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and maintaining purity of intention; make the giving an offering to Shiva before feeding Brahmins, devotees, or the needy.