Shloka 47

यममार्गे सुखदायकधर्माः

Dharmas that Grant Ease on the Path to Yama

Devanagari script

एते लोकाः पुण्यकृतामन्नदानां महाप्रभाः । तस्मादन्नं विशेषेण दातव्यं मानवैर्ध्रुवम्

Transliteration

ete lokāḥ puṇyakṛtāmannadānāṃ mahāprabhāḥ | tasmādannaṃ viśeṣeṇa dātavyaṃ mānavairdhruvam

Translation

இந்த உலகங்கள் அன்னதானம் செய்யும் புண்ணியவானோருக்கே—மிகுந்த ஒளியுடனும் மகிமையுடனும் விளங்குகின்றன. ஆகவே மனிதர்கள் சிறப்பு கவனத்துடன் உறுதியாக அன்னதானம் செய்ய வேண்டும்।

Word by Word

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• लोकाः: worlds
• लोकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• पुण्यकृताम्: of the doers of merit
• पुण्यकृताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्यकृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (पुण्यं करोति इति); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• अन्नदानाम्: of food-gifts
• अन्नदानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्नदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (अन्नस्य दानम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• महाप्रभाः: of great splendor
• महाप्रभाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाप्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (महान् च प्रभः/प्रभा-समर्थः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of lokāḥ)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-प्रयोगः; हेत्वर्थे अव्ययीभाववत् (ablatival adverb: 'therefore')

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (instrumental used adverbially: 'especially')

• दातव्यम्: should be given
• दातव्यम्: Vidhi (विधि/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (तव्यत्) कृदन्त; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (impersonal obligation)

• मानवैः: by humans
• मानवैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• ध्रुवम्: certainly
• ध्रुवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत्; निश्चयार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: certainly)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames annadāna as a direct cause of ‘mahāprabhā’ (radiant) lokas—typical pilgrimage praxis of feeding as merit-making.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It elevates annadāna (giving food) as a foremost dharma: compassion expressed through nourishment generates great puṇya and leads to higher, radiant realms—supporting the Shaiva ideal that inner purity and selfless service prepare the soul (paśu) for Shiva’s grace (pati-anugraha).

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

In Saguna Shiva worship, devotion is not only ritual but also lived dharma; annadāna is a practical extension of offering to Shiva—serving beings as recipients of Shiva’s presence—thus complementing Linga-puja with compassionate action.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The direct practice is annadāna—feeding devotees, guests, the poor, or pilgrims—ideally after Shiva worship (e.g., japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a dedicated offering, treating the act as seva and a purifier of karmic bonds.