Shloka 17
यममार्गे सुखदायकधर्माः
Dharmas that Grant Ease on the Path to Yama
सर्वेषामेव दानानामन्नदानं परं स्मृतम् । सद्यः प्रीतिकरं हृद्यं बलबुद्धिविवर्धनम्
sarveṣāmeva dānānāmannadānaṃ paraṃ smṛtam | sadyaḥ prītikaraṃ hṛdyaṃ balabuddhivivardhanam
எல்லா தானங்களிலும் அன்னதானமே உத்தமம் என்று கூறப்படுகிறது. அது உடனே மகிழ்ச்சி தரும், மனத்திற்கு இனிமை தரும், வலமும் அறிவுத் தெளிவும் வளர்க்கும்.
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s dharmic teaching as preserved in the Umāsaṃhitā context)
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: The verse aligns with the Kāśī-Annapūrṇā/Viśveśvara ethos: sustaining beings through food as the foremost dāna; however no specific Jyotirliṅga is named here.
Significance: Frames annadāna as the most immediate, universally beneficial puṇya—supporting life and dharma; in Siddhānta, such puṇya purifies conduct and supports receptivity to Śiva-bhakti.
Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It elevates annadāna (feeding others) as the foremost dharmic act because it directly sustains life and supports sattvic well-being—an outward expression of compassion aligned with Shaiva dharma.
In Saguna Shiva worship, offering food and supporting devotees mirrors service to Shiva present in all beings; annadāna becomes a practical extension of pūjā, turning devotion into compassionate action.
Perform annadāna as a vow (vrata)—especially on Shiva days—by offering naivedya and then feeding devotees and the needy, while mentally dedicating the merit to Lord Shiva with the Panchakshara spirit of surrender.