Shloka 46
Determination of the Householder’s Dharma
Dāna: Types, Recipients, Timing, and Fruits
अन्नदाता श्रियं स्वेष्टां गोदो ब्राह्मणविष्टपम् । यानशय्याप्रदो भार्य्यामैश्वर्यमभयप्रदः
annadātā śriyaṃ sveṣṭāṃ godo brāhmaṇaviṣṭapam | yānaśayyāprado bhāryyāmaiśvaryamabhayapradaḥ
مَن يهبُ الطعامَ ينلِ الرخاءَ الذي يشتهيه؛ ومَن يهبُ الأبقارَ يبلغُ سماءَ البراهمة. ومَن يهبُ المركباتِ والأسِرّة ينلْ زوجةً؛ ومَن يمنحُ الأمانَ من الخوف ينلِ السيادةَ والاقتدار.
Not explicitly stated in the provided excerpt (context likely a didactic narration within a Pulastya–Bhīṣma dialogue in Svarga-khaṇḍa).
Concept: Charity that sustains life (food), dharma (cows supporting yajña and livelihood), comfort (vehicles/beds), and safety (fearlessness) yields corresponding prosperity, heavenly status, family fulfillment, and sovereignty.
Application: Prioritize ‘life-supporting’ giving: feed others, support ethical animal care, provide shelter/transport for the needy, and practice abhaya-dāna by reducing fear—through fairness, non-violence, and protection of dependents.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A grand dharma-procession unfolds: a donor distributes steaming rice to the hungry, offers a gentle cow adorned with garlands to a learned brāhmaṇa, and gifts a simple cart and bedding to a weary family. At the climax, the donor raises a hand in the gesture of protection (abhaya-mudrā) before frightened villagers, while above them a radiant crown-and-throne vision symbolizes the sovereignty born from fearless compassion.","primary_figures":["donor (king or householder)","hungry recipients","brāhmaṇa recipient","cow (go)","protected villagers","celestial heralds (optional)"],"setting":"Town square near a temple gate; charity pavilion with pots of food, cow-pen area, carts and bedding stacked; sky shows a faint brāhmaṇa-viṣṭapa realm.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["rice-white","marigold orange","cowhide umber","royal blue","sunlit gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central donor-king in abhaya-mudrā, distributing anna and gifting a decorated cow; ornate temple gateway, gold leaf halos and throne-vision above, rich reds/greens, gem-studded crowns, embossed highlights on vessels and ornaments.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: compassionate civic scene with delicate faces; donor feeding the poor, gifting a cow to a brāhmaṇa, offering cart and bedding; soft dawn sky, gentle hills in distance, refined textiles, subtle celestial realm sketched above in pale gold.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined donor with raised abhaya hand, stylized cow with decorative patterns, recipients in clear narrative grouping; warm reds/yellows/greens, temple-wall symmetry, ornamental borders emphasizing dharma and protection.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central motif of a large anna-bhāṇḍa (food vessel) surrounded by lotus medallions showing go-dāna, śayyā-dāna, yāna-dāna, and abhaya-dāna; deep blue background with gold floral borders, peacocks and cows integrated into the patterning."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"celebratory","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["community murmurs","temple bells","cows lowing","serving ladles clinking","conch shell"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यānaśayyāprado = यानशय्याप्रदः; भāryyāmaiśvaryamabhayapradaḥ = भार्याम् + ऐश्वर्यम् + अभयप्रदः.
FAQs
It teaches the doctrine of dāna-phala: specific gifts (food, cows, vehicles/beds, fearlessness) are said to yield corresponding forms of welfare—prosperity, heavenly attainment, family blessing, and sovereignty.
It denotes a meritorious heavenly realm associated with brāhmaṇas—i.e., a high, auspicious “world/heaven” attained through the especially praised gift of cows (go-dāna).
Abhaya-dāna is framed as protection and assurance of safety; the verse states that one who grants fearlessness gains aiśvarya—lordship, authority, and power—highlighting the ethical value of safeguarding others.