Shloka 52

यममार्गे सुखदायकधर्माः

Dharmas that Grant Ease on the Path to Yama

Devanagari script

एतदाख्यानमनघमन्नदानप्रभावतः । यः पठेत्पाठयेदन्यान्स समृद्धः प्रजायते

Transliteration

etadākhyānamanaghamannadānaprabhāvataḥ | yaḥ paṭhetpāṭhayedanyānsa samṛddhaḥ prajāyate

Translation

By the power born of offering food in charity, this spotless sacred narrative bears fruit: whoever recites it, or causes others to recite it, is born endowed with prosperity.

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘आख्यानम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• आख्यानम्: narrative/account
• आख्यानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आख्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अनघम्: sinless/pure
• अनघम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘आख्यानम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अन्न-दान-प्रभावतः: due to the power of food-giving
• अन्न-दान-प्रभावतः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अन्नदानस्य प्रभावः)

• यः: whoever
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• पठेत्: should read/recite
• पठेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पठ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पाठयेत्: should cause to read/teach
• पाठयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पठ् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

• अन्यान्: others
• अन्यान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समृद्धः: prosperous
• समृद्धः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-√ऋध् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, कर्तरि (state)

• प्रजायते: is born/becomes
• प्रजायते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the merit of the discourse to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

FAQs

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

The verse is a phalaśruti teaching that annadāna (feeding others) and śāstra-pāṭha (recitation/propagation of sacred narrative) generate puṇya that manifests as auspicious birth and prosperity, supporting a life conducive to Shiva-bhakti and dharmic living.

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

In Shaiva practice, worship of Saguna Shiva (including Linga-pūjā) is strengthened by compassionate acts like annadāna and by hearing/reciting Shiva-kathā; both purify the pashu (individual) and help loosen pāśa (bondage), making devotion steady.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to pair Shiva-kathā recitation (or arranging a reading) with annadāna—especially on Shiva worship days such as Mondays or Mahāśivarātri—as a simple, scripture-aligned Shaiva observance.