Shloka 10
The Integrated Dharma-Discipline: Celibacy, Austerity, Charity, Observances, Forgiveness, Purity, Non-violence, Peace, Non-stealing, Self-restraint, and Guru-service
आत्मसौख्यं प्रतीच्छेद्यः स इहैव परत्र वा । अन्नस्यापि महादानं सुखस्यैव ध्रुवस्य वा
ātmasaukhyaṃ pratīcchedyaḥ sa ihaiva paratra vā | annasyāpi mahādānaṃ sukhasyaiva dhruvasya vā
ينبغي للمرء أن يقبل ويسعى إلى خيره الحقّ، في هذه الحياة أو في الآخرة. وحتى العطاء العظيم للطعام هو في جوهره عطاءٌ يجلب السعادة، سعادةً ثابتةً دائمة.
Unspecified (context-dependent within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa narrative)
Concept: Pursue true well-being here and hereafter; the great gift of food is fundamentally a gift of happiness—stable and enduring.
Application: Prioritize ‘sukha’ as long-term welfare (health, virtue, peace) over short-term pleasure; support food security—feed guests, donate to kitchens, avoid waste.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A large earthen pot of steaming rice sits at the center of a courtyard, and a donor serves food with calm reverence to a line of hungry travelers, ascetics, and children. Above, a subtle Vishnu-presence is suggested through a luminous śaṅkha-cakra pattern in the sky, implying that stable happiness flows from sustaining life.","primary_figures":["donor (gṛhastha)","hungry travelers","ascetic (bhikṣu)","children","subtle Vishnu symbol in the heavens"],"setting":"village courtyard with a shaded veranda, banana leaves as plates, water pot, and a small Tulasi-less shrine corner (generic)","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["terracotta","rice white","banana-leaf green","indigo","soft gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: annadāna courtyard scene with a central steaming pot, donor serving on banana leaves, gold leaf highlights on vessels and halos, rich reds/greens, ornate borders, subtle śaṅkha-cakra radiance in embossed gold above.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate courtyard with delicate architecture, gentle expressions of gratitude, soft shadows, cool indigo accents, lyrical realism in steam rising from food, distant trees and hills for depth.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: narrative panel of annadāna with bold outlines, stylized pots and banana leaves, rhythmic repetition of seated recipients, strong red-yellow-green palette, decorative temple-wall framing.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symmetrical annadāna composition framed by lotus and floral borders, peacocks at the edges, deep blue background with gold motifs, central offering vessels rendered with intricate patterning, subtle Vaishnava emblems overhead."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["clinking serving ladle","low temple bell","murmured blessings","soft footsteps","gentle silence after ‘dhruvasya’"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इहैव = इह + एव; अन्नस्यापि = अन्नस्य + अपि; सुखस्यैव = सुखस्य + एव.
FAQs
It links dharmic action with genuine well-being, stating that true benefit may manifest in this life or the next, and that charity—especially food-giving—ultimately produces stable happiness.
Because feeding others directly sustains life and alleviates suffering; the verse frames such giving as a “great gift” whose fruit is happiness and enduring merit.
Seek well-being through dharma rather than selfish pleasure, and practice generosity—particularly giving food—as a concrete, high-impact form of compassion that yields lasting good.