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

かくして、施しなき人々はこの世を去るとき安楽を乞い求めてさまよう。されど、受けた施与をもって自らも布施し、旅の糧とした者は、安らかに閻魔（ヤマ）の住処へと赴く。

Word by Word

दानहीनाःdevoid of charity

प्रयान्तिgo forth

एवम्thus

प्रार्थयन्तःbegging/entreating

सुखम्comfort/happiness

नराःmen/people

गृहीतदानपाथेयाःthose whose provisions are accepted gifts (i.e., who have given charity)

सुखम्comfort/happiness

यान्तिgo

यमालयम्Yama’s abode

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

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.