Shloka 22

Umā–Maheśvara-saṃvāda: Varṇa-bhraṃśa, Ācāra (Vṛtta), and Karmic Ascent/Decline

Devanagari script

उपवासे बलौ चापि ताम्रपात्रं विशिष्यते । बलिकभभिक्षा तथार्घ्य च पितृणां च तिलोदकम्‌

Transliteration

Baladeva uvāca: upavāse balau cāpi tāmrāpātraṁ viśiṣyate | balikabhikṣā tathārghyaṁ ca pitṝṇāṁ ca tilodakam |

Translation

Baladeva sprach: „Bei Riten des Fastens und bei bali‑Opfern gilt ein Kupfergefäß als besonders vortrefflich. Opfergaben für die Verehrung, Almosen, die arghya‑Darbringung und das mit Sesam vermischte Wasser für die Pitṛs sollen durch ein Kupfergefäß gereicht werden; andernfalls wird ihre Frucht sehr gering. Dies wird als höchst vertraulicher Lehrpunkt überliefert. Wer so handelt, macht die Götter zufrieden.“

Word by Word

• उपवासे: in fasting/at the time of fasting
• उपवासे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• बलौ: in an offering (bali)
• बलौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• ताम्रपात्रम्: a copper vessel
• ताम्रपात्रम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्रपात्र
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• विशिष्यते: is distinguished/is considered superior
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-शिष्
• Form: Present, Atmanepada, Third, Singular, Active (Atmanepada usage)

• बलिकभभिक्षा: offering and alms (bali and bhikṣā)
• बलिकभभिक्षा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि-भिक्षा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: likewise/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• अर्घ्यम्: arghya (honor-offering)
• अर्घ्यम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पितृणाम्: of/for the ancestors (pitṛs)
• पितृणाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• तिलोदकम्: sesame-mixed water
• तिलोदकम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिलोदक
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

बलदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Baladeva
• tāmrāpātra (copper vessel)
• arghya
• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• tilodaka (sesame-water)
• devatāḥ (deities)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that the material medium of ritual giving matters: offerings connected with fasting, worship, arghya, alms, and ancestral sesame-water should be presented in a copper vessel, which is said to enhance the efficacy (phala) of the rite and please the deities.

What is happening in the narrative?

Baladeva is instructing about proper ritual procedure (vidhi) within a dharma-discourse: he highlights a specific, ‘confidential’ rule regarding the use of a copper vessel for certain offerings, linking correct observance to greater spiritual result and divine satisfaction.