Shloka 44

तपसो महिमा

The Greatness and Typology of Tapas

Devanagari script

गृहीतदानपाथेयः सुखं याति यमालयम् । अन्यथा क्लिश्यते जंतुः पाथेयरहिते पथि

Transliteration

gṛhītadānapātheyaḥ sukhaṃ yāti yamālayam | anyathā kliśyate jaṃtuḥ pātheyarahite pathi

Translation

One who has secured the “travel-provision” of charity goes in comfort to Yama’s abode; otherwise the embodied being suffers on the road, like a traveler who sets out without provisions.

Word by Word

• गृहीत-दान-पाथेयः: one who has taken charity as provisions
• गृहीत-दान-पाथेयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गृहीत (ग्रह् धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त) + दान (प्रातिपदिक) + पाथेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहि: “यस्य दानं पाथेयत्वेन गृहीतम् सः” (one who has taken charity as journey-provision)

• सुखम्: happily, comfortably
• सुखम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया (adverbial accusative): “happily/with ease”

• याति: goes
• याति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• यमालयम्: to Yama’s abode
• यमालयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक) + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (“abode of Yama”)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: “otherwise”)

• क्लिश्यते: suffers, is tormented
• क्लिश्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्लिश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगसदृश (is afflicted/suffers)

• जन्तुः: a creature, person
• जन्तुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• पाथेय-रहिते: on (a path) without provisions
• पाथेय-रहिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाथेय (प्रातिपदिक) + रहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (Masc/Neut), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); उपपद-तत्पुरुष (“devoid of provisions”); विशेषण of पथि

• पथि: on the path
• पथि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

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

The verse frames dāna (charitable giving) as pātheya—spiritual provisions that ease the jīva’s post-death passage under Dharma (Yama). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, it reduces karmic burden (pāśa), making the soul’s transition less painful and more orderly.

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

While it speaks in the idiom of Yama and karma, it supports Saguna Shiva worship by emphasizing righteous conduct as the foundation for grace-filled practice. Linga-bhakti paired with dharma like dāna purifies the heart, making devotion effective rather than merely external.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to pair Shiva-upasana with regular dāna—especially on vrata days (e.g., Mahāśivarātri), after japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya). Offer food, water, or essentials as ‘pātheya’ for one’s own spiritual journey.