Shloka 35
Origin of Jaleśvara Tīrtha and the Devas’ Appeal to Śiva against Bāṇa/Tripura
Nārada’s Mission
तत्ते दास्याम्यहं विप्र यच्चान्यदपि दुर्ल्लभम् । प्रतिगृह्ण द्विजश्रेष्ठ प्रीयेतां हरिशंकरौ
tatte dāsyāmyahaṃ vipra yaccānyadapi durllabham | pratigṛhṇa dvijaśreṣṭha prīyetāṃ hariśaṃkarau
أيها البراهمن، سأهبُ لك ذلك، وما سواه ممّا يعسر نيله. فاقبلْه يا أفضلَ ذوي الميلادين، ليرضى هاري وشنكرا.
Unspecified in the provided excerpt (a donor/benefactor addressing a brāhmaṇa)
Concept: Wealth becomes sanctified when offered with the intention of pleasing God; yet intention must be guided by discernment about the recipient.
Application: Before giving, clarify your motive: is it divine pleasure and relief of need, or social display? Let motive shape method.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: city
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The donor’s hands gesture toward a treasury laid open—rare objects, jewels, and heirloom ornaments—while her words invoke Hari and Śaṅkara as witnesses. The brāhmaṇa stands serene, the contrast between opulence and ascetic calm sharpening the moral question of what should be accepted.","primary_figures":["donor/queen","brāhmaṇa (addressed as dvija-śreṣṭha)","attendants","subtle icon of Hari and Śaṅkara (shrine relief)"],"setting":"palace treasury threshold opening into an offering space with a small dual-deity shrine niche","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["sapphire blue","burnished gold","ivory","crimson","smoky ash-gray"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: open treasury with gold vessels and jewel caskets; donor offering with folded hands; small shrine panel showing Hari with śaṅkha-cakra and Śaṅkara with triśūla; lavish gold leaf, rich reds/greens, ornate borders and embossed halos.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical interior with delicate detailing of jewels and textiles; brāhmaṇa’s calm face; a small shrine relief in the background; cool blues and soft ivories balancing the gold; refined gestures emphasizing intention.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: symmetrical composition; bold outlines; Hari and Śaṅkara as stylized icons in a niche; warm pigments and patterned floor; expressive eyes conveying devotion and ethical tension.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: border of lotuses and bilva leaves to hint at Hari-Śaṅkara invocation; deep blue field with gold highlights; donor and brāhmaṇa centered; intricate floral motifs and temple-lamp elements."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["treasury doors creak","metallic chime of coins","temple bell","low drone","brief pause on ‘Hari-Śaṅkarau’"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तत्ते = तत् + ते; दास्याम्यहम् = दास्यामि + अहम्; यच्चान्यदपि = यत् + च + अन्यत् + अपि; द्विजश्रेष्ठ = द्विज + श्रेष्ठ; हरिशंकरौ = हरि + शंकरौ.
FAQs
The verse presents religious merit as inclusive: righteous giving and respectful conduct are framed as pleasing to both Viṣṇu (Hari) and Śiva (Śaṅkara), emphasizing harmony rather than rivalry.
It highlights dāna (generosity) and reverence toward worthy recipients (here, a brāhmaṇa), suggesting that sincere giving—especially of rare or difficult-to-obtain items—supports spiritual merit.
“Dvijaśreṣṭha” means “best among the twice-born,” a respectful address indicating the recipient is regarded as exemplary in learning, conduct, or ritual status.