Shloka 50

यममार्गे सुखदायकधर्माः

Dharmas that Grant Ease on the Path to Yama

Devanagari script

अन्नपानाश्वगोवस्त्रशय्याच्छत्रासनानि च । प्रेतलोके प्रशस्तानि दानान्यष्टौ विशेषतः

Transliteration

annapānāśvagovastraśayyācchatrāsanāni ca | pretaloke praśastāni dānānyaṣṭau viśeṣataḥ

Translation

अन्न-पान, घोडा, गाय, वस्त्र, शय्या, छत्र आणि आसन—ही आठ दाने प्रेतलोकी विशेषतः प्रशंसित व अत्यंत हितकारी मानली आहेत.

Word by Word

• अन्न-पान-अश्व-गो-वस्त्र-शय्या-छत्र-आसनानि: food, drink, horses, cows, clothes, beds, umbrellas, seats
• अन्न-पान-अश्व-गो-वस्त्र-शय्या-छत्र-आसनानि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न + पान + अश्व + गो + वस्त्र + शय्या + छत्र + आसन (सर्वे प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective list)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रेत-लोके: in the world of the departed (preta-loka)
• प्रेत-लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रेतानां लोकः)

• प्रशस्तानि: commended/praiseworthy
• प्रशस्तानि: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-शंस् (√शंस् धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, ‘...आसनानि’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• दानानि: gifts/charities
• दानानि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अष्टौ: eight
• अष्टौ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषणम् (दानानि इत्यस्य)

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/अत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: especially)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

FAQs

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

It teaches that compassionate charity (dāna)—especially essentials that remove hunger, exposure, and helplessness—creates merit that supports and uplifts beings in transitional post-death states, aligning the giver with Shiva’s dharmic order.

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

In Shaiva practice, worship of Saguna Shiva (including Linga-pūjā) is strengthened by dharmic conduct; offering dāna as taught here becomes an outward expression of devotion and purity that supports auspicious results of Shiva-worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform charity—especially food and clothing—alongside śrāddha or Shiva-pūjā, and mentally dedicate the merit to Shiva and the departed while repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya").