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

ದಾನವಿಲ್ಲದವರು ಸುಖವನ್ನು ಬೇಡುತ್ತ ಭಿಕ್ಷುಕನಂತೆ ಈ ಲೋಕದಿಂದ ಹೊರಡುತ್ತಾರೆ; ಆದರೆ ದಾನವನ್ನು ಪಥೇಯವಾಗಿ ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸಿ ನೀಡಿ ನಡೆದವರು ಸುಲಭವಾಗಿ ಯಮಲೋಕವನ್ನು ಸೇರುತ್ತಾರೆ।

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

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.