Shloka 4
यममार्गे सुखदायकधर्माः
Dharmas that Grant Ease on the Path to Yama
यः प्रदद्याद् द्विजेन्द्राणामुपानत्काष्ठपादुके । स नरोऽश्वेन महता सुखं याति यमालयम्
yaḥ pradadyād dvijendrāṇāmupānatkāṣṭhapāduke | sa naro'śvena mahatā sukhaṃ yāti yamālayam
Barangsiapa mempersembahkan kepada para dwija utama (brahmana) alas kaki—sandal atau terompah kayu—ia akan menempuh perjalanan ke kediaman Yama dengan nyaman, menunggang kuda yang agung.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It teaches that compassionate charity (dāna) done to worthy recipients becomes dharma that refines karma; even the soul’s post-death passage is described as eased, indicating the purifying power of selfless giving under Shiva’s moral order (Pati guiding beings through dharma).
While not directly describing Liṅga-pūjā, it supports Saguna Shiva devotion through practical dharma: service and charity offered in a Shiva-aligned life purify the devotee, preparing the mind for Shiva-bhakti and higher realization beyond bondage (pāśa).
A clear takeaway is dāna—specifically gifting footwear/pādukās to learned brāhmaṇas—as a supportive Shaiva practice; it may be paired with simple Shiva remembrance such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while dedicating the act to Lord Shiva.