By "device" I presume you mean your iPad?
Computers running iTunes are intended to be the master source for your collection. i-devices are designed to be synced from a computer's collection. They are not intended to be the main repository of your collection. If you need that, consider buying an external hard drive for your media collection. You can transfer items purchased from Apple from a device to a computer, but depeneding upon your country and iCloud availability you should also be able to download them from the iTunes Store to your computer again too.
iTunes Store: Transferring purchases from your iOS device or iPod to a computer - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1848 - this is just purchased music, not all
Downloading (using iOS or computer) past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2519 - enabled with iTunes 10.3 and newer; not all media formats are available in all countries (see: iTunes in the Cloud and iTunes Match Availability by Country - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5085 ); apps, books (not audiobooks), music, t.v. shows, and movies (some - not all studios have permitted this). Downloading previously purchased movies and TV shows requires iTunes 10.6 or later. Discontinued items not available. For items not included in the iCloud list (e.g., ringtones, audiobooks), or locations or computer systems where iCloud is not (yet?) available, you only get one download per fee paid. Apple recommends "you always back up your iTunes library in the event that a purchased item is no longer available on the iTunes Store."