Shloka 47
यममार्गे सुखदायकधर्माः
Dharmas that Grant Ease on the Path to Yama
एते लोकाः पुण्यकृतामन्नदानां महाप्रभाः । तस्मादन्नं विशेषेण दातव्यं मानवैर्ध्रुवम्
ete lokāḥ puṇyakṛtāmannadānāṃ mahāprabhāḥ | tasmādannaṃ viśeṣeṇa dātavyaṃ mānavairdhruvam
ये लोक अन्नदान करने वाले पुण्यात्माओं के हैं—अत्यन्त तेजस्वी और महान् प्रभा वाले। इसलिए मनुष्यों को विशेष रूप से और निश्चय ही अन्नदान करना चाहिए।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Significance: Frames annadāna as a direct cause of ‘mahāprabhā’ (radiant) lokas—typical pilgrimage praxis of feeding as merit-making.
Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It elevates annadāna (giving food) as a foremost dharma: compassion expressed through nourishment generates great puṇya and leads to higher, radiant realms—supporting the Shaiva ideal that inner purity and selfless service prepare the soul (paśu) for Shiva’s grace (pati-anugraha).
In Saguna Shiva worship, devotion is not only ritual but also lived dharma; annadāna is a practical extension of offering to Shiva—serving beings as recipients of Shiva’s presence—thus complementing Linga-puja with compassionate action.
The direct practice is annadāna—feeding devotees, guests, the poor, or pilgrims—ideally after Shiva worship (e.g., japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a dedicated offering, treating the act as seva and a purifier of karmic bonds.