Shloka 5
The Greatness of the Gaṇḍakī River and the Śālagrāma Stone
दीनांधकृपणानां च पंगूनां वासनोचितम् । दानं ददौ महाराजो बुद्धिमान्विजितेंद्रियः
dīnāṃdhakṛpaṇānāṃ ca paṃgūnāṃ vāsanocitam | dānaṃ dadau mahārājo buddhimānvijiteṃdriyaḥ
Jener große König —weise und die Sinne bezwingend— spendete Gaben, wie es den Bedürfnissen der Armen, Blinden, Bedürftigen und Lahmen entsprach.
Narrator (context not specified in the provided excerpt)
Concept: Dāna must be appropriate (yathocita) and compassionate; self-control and wisdom express themselves as tailored service to the vulnerable.
Application: Practice ‘fit-to-need’ giving: food, medicine, mobility aids, guidance; give respectfully without spectacle; cultivate indriya-jaya (self-restraint) to free resources for charity.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: city
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At a roadside rest-house, the king descends from his mount and personally oversees gifts: cloth for the destitute, food and coins for the poor, a staff and guide for the blind, and support for the lame. The recipients’ faces soften from hardship into relief, while the king’s calm, restrained posture conveys indriya-jaya and quiet nobility.","primary_figures":["the king (mahārāja)","poor and destitute (dīna/kṛpaṇa)","blind person (andha)","lame person (paṅgu)","attendants distributing gifts"],"setting":"Pilgrimage route with a dharmaśālā, shade trees, water pots, baskets of grain, folded cloth, and a small Viṣṇu emblem on a banner.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["warm ochre","deep maroon","ivory white","peacock green","antique gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: the king with a serene face and ornate crown offers cloth and alms to the needy at a dharmaśālā; attendants hold trays of grain and coins; a small Mahāviṣṇu icon in a side niche; heavy gold leaf detailing on jewelry and halos, rich reds/greens, symmetrical composition, traditional South Indian ornamentation.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate charity scene under a tree with delicate gestures—hands extended in giving and receiving; soft pastel garments, refined facial expressions, small architectural pavilion, distant hills; emphasis on humane tenderness and narrative clarity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized figures in profile, bold outlines, rhythmic arrangement of recipients; the king’s self-controlled stance central; warm red/yellow/green pigments, temple-wall aesthetic, minimal depth but strong iconographic presence.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: a devotional charity tableau framed by lotus and floral borders; subtle Viṣṇu symbols (śaṅkha-cakra) in corners; peacocks and cows at the periphery; deep blues and gold accents, intricate textile-like patterning."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","murmur of a crowd","coin clink","rustle of cloth","distant conch"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दीनांधकृपणानां = दीन + अन्ध + कृपणानाम् (समुच्चयार्थे षष्ठी-बहुवचन-श्रृङ्खला); वासनोचितम् = वासना + उचितम्; महाराजो = महाराजः; बुद्धिमान्विजितेंद्रियः = बुद्धिमान् + विजितेन्द्रियः
FAQs
The verse highlights dāna (charitable giving) guided by discernment—help that is appropriate to the recipient’s condition—along with the king’s self-mastery (vijitendriya) and wisdom (buddhimān).
It implies need-based giving: charity that is fitting and practical—especially suitable clothing/covering or provisions appropriate to the poor, blind, destitute, and disabled.
Both rulers and householders are taught to practice compassionate, targeted generosity—supporting vulnerable people with suitable aid—while cultivating self-control and responsible judgment.