Shloka 42

नरकलोकमार्गयमदूतस्वरूपवर्णनम् / Description of the Path to Naraka and the Nature of Yama’s Messengers

Devanagari script

दानहीनाः प्रयांत्येवं प्रार्थयंतस्सुखं नराः । गृहीतदान पाथेयास्सुखं यांति यमालयम्

Transliteration

dānahīnāḥ prayāṃtyevaṃ prārthayaṃtassukhaṃ narāḥ | gṛhītadāna pātheyāssukhaṃ yāṃti yamālayam

Translation

Thus, men bereft of charity depart this world begging for comfort; but those who have received and bestowed gifts as the provision for their journey proceed with ease to Yama’s abode.

Word by Word

• दानहीनाः: devoid of charity
• दानहीनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दानस्य हीनाः)

• प्रयान्ति: go forth
• प्रयान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• प्रार्थयन्तः: begging/entreating
• प्रार्थयन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√अर्थ/अर्थ् (धातु) (प्रार्थयत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सुखम्: comfort/happiness
• सुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• नराः: men/people
• नराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• गृहीतदानपाथेयाः: those whose provisions are accepted gifts (i.e., who have given charity)
• गृहीतदानपाथेयाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गृहीत (√ग्रह् धातु; कृदन्त) + दान (प्रातिपदिक) + पाथेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (येषां पाथेयम् = दानं गृहीतम्)

• सुखम्: comfort/happiness
• सुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यान्ति: go
• यान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• यमालयम्: Yama’s abode
• यमालयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यमस्य आलयः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: post-mortem journey (preta-gati) governed by karma and dharma

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

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

The verse frames dāna (charity) as a “pātheyā” (provision) for the soul’s post-death journey: generosity lightens karmic burden and grants ease, while miserliness leaves one spiritually “poor,” compelled to plead for relief.

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

In Shaiva practice, Linga-worship is not only ritual but dharma lived: offerings and charity express devotion to Saguna Shiva through compassion and right conduct, reducing pāśa (bondage) that veils the soul from Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform dāna as a regular vow—especially on Shiva days (e.g., Mahāśivarātri, Pradosha)—along with japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offering food, water, or essentials to the needy as an extension of Shiva-sevā.