Shloka 37

यममार्गे सुखदायकधर्माः

Dharmas that Grant Ease on the Path to Yama

Devanagari script

पितॄन्देवांस्तथा विप्रानतिथींश्च महामुने । यो नरः प्रीणयत्यन्नैस्तस्य पुण्यफलं महत्

Transliteration

pitṝndevāṃstathā viprānatithīṃśca mahāmune | yo naraḥ prīṇayatyannaistasya puṇyaphalaṃ mahat

Translation

大いなる聖仙よ、祖霊（ピトリ）、神々、バラモン、そして客人を、食の供養によって満たす者は、広大な功徳の果を得る。その敬虔なる施食は、パーシャ（pāśa）の束縛をゆるめ、魂がシヴァの恩寵へと進むのを支える。

Word by Word

• पितॄन्: ancestors
• पितॄन्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• देवान्: gods
• देवान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• तथा: also, likewise
• तथा: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (also/likewise)

• विप्रान्: brahmins
• विप्रान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• अतिथीन्: guests
• अतिथीन्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• महामुने: O great sage
• महामुने: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (महान् मुनिः)

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक

• नरः: man, person
• नरः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• प्रीणयति: pleases, satisfies
• प्रीणयति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √प्री (धातु, णिच् causative)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच् (causative)

• अन्नैः: with foods
• अन्नैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण (instrument)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• पुण्यफलम्: meritorious fruit (reward)
• पुण्यफलम्: कर्ता/विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (पुण्यस्य फलम्)

• महत्: great
• महत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Feeding pitṛs, devas, vipras, and atithis is framed as mahā-puṇya that purifies karmic accretions and supports eligibility for Śiva’s grace (anugraha) through dharmic conduct.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Pitrs
• Devas
• Brahmanas
• Atithi (guest)

FAQs

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

The verse elevates annadāna (offering food) as a dharmic act that generates great puṇya by honoring multiple sacred recipients—pitṛs, devas, learned Brāhmaṇas, and guests—thereby purifying the devotee’s conduct and reducing binding karmic limitations (pāśa) that obstruct Śiva-anugraha (Śiva’s grace).

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

In Linga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship, devotion is expressed not only through ritual but also through Śiva-approved dharma: serving beings connected to cosmic order. Feeding guests and the worthy is treated as an extension of pūjā—an outward expression of inner bhakti that supports the devotee’s readiness for Śiva’s presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice annadāna and atithi-sevā with mantra-remembrance (e.g., mentally repeating “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a pure intention; optionally pair it with simple śaiva observances such as applying bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and offering food after daily Śiva-pūjā as prasāda to guests or the needy.