The textbook glossary explicitly defines 'स्मृति पाथेय' as 'स्मृति रूपी संबल' (memory as a support/provision). In the poem 'आत्मकथ्य', the poet Jaishankar Prasad expresses that the memories of past beautiful moments (like the dawn of love) have now become his only support in the exhausting journey of life, just as provisions (पाथेय) sustain a tired traveler (थके पथिक) on a long path (पंथा). However, he also questions the wisdom of unraveling the seams of his inner mind (कंथा) by revisiting these memories, as they bring forth hidden pain along with comfort.