Shloka 199
The Greatness of Puṣkara: Tripuṣkara Pilgrimage, Sacred Geography, and the Doctrine of Self-Restraint
यस्त्वेकं भोजयेद्विप्रं कोटिर्भवति भोजिता । अक्षयं त्वन्नपानं च अत्र दत्तं मुनीश्वर
yastvekaṃ bhojayedvipraṃ koṭirbhavati bhojitā | akṣayaṃ tvannapānaṃ ca atra dattaṃ munīśvara
Wer aber auch nur einen einzigen Brāhmaṇa speist, ist, als hätte er ein koṭi gespeist. Und die Gabe von Speise und Trank, die hier dargebracht wird, wird unvergänglich, o Herr der Weisen.
Unspecified in the provided excerpt (context needed from surrounding verses).
Concept: Feeding a single worthy brāhmaṇa at a mahā-tīrtha equals feeding multitudes; charity done in sacred context with right recipient becomes akṣaya (imperishable).
Application: Practice food charity—feed guests, priests, the needy; prioritize purity, humility, and right intention; when visiting sacred places, include anna-dāna as a core act.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A long line of pilgrims and brāhmaṇas sits on woven mats near Puṣkara’s ghāṭa as servers ladle fragrant rice, ghee, and sweet water into leaf-plates. Above the act of feeding, a glowing ‘akṣaya’ aura forms—like an endless garland of grains and light—signifying imperishable merit bestowed by the tīrtha.","primary_figures":["brāhmaṇa guest","donor (dātā)","servers/volunteers","muni addressed as ‘munīśvara’ (as listener figure, optional)"],"setting":"Lakeside feeding pavilion with cloth canopy, brass pots, leaf plates, flower garlands, and distant temple silhouettes.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["ghee gold","banana-leaf green","vermillion red","brass amber","midnight blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: grand anna-dāna at Puṣkara with rows of seated brāhmaṇas, donor offering with folded hands, gold-leaf accents on vessels and halos, ornate pavilion and temple backdrop, ‘akṣaya’ aura depicted as a gold-leaf mandala of grains; rich reds/greens and jeweled ornamentation.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate lakeside bhojana scene with delicate linework, soft textiles, subtle expressions of gratitude, cool evening palette with warm lamp pools, distant ghāṭa architecture; akṣaya merit shown as a faint luminous ribbon above the diners.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized feeding rows, bold outlines, patterned leaf-plates and brass pots, donor figure prominent, decorative akṣaya halo motif above; warm red-yellow-green pigments and temple-wall symmetry.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symmetrical anna-dāna composition framed by lotus and floral borders; deep indigo ground with gold highlights; rows of diners like a devotional procession; akṣaya motif rendered as repeating grain-and-lotus medallions across the upper border."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"celebratory","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["clinking brass vessels","soft chanting","temple bells","crowd murmur","lake breeze"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: yastv ekam (yaḥ + tu + ekam); bhojayed vipram (bhojayet + vipram); koṭir bhavati (koṭiḥ + bhavati); tv annapānaṃ (tu + anna-pānam). Note: 'bhojitā' is contextually predicative; reading may imply 'bhojitā (counted as fed) becomes a crore' i.e., merit multiplies.
FAQs
It teaches the exceptional spiritual merit (puṇya) of anna-dāna—feeding a brāhmaṇa—stating that even feeding one is spiritually equivalent to feeding a vast multitude, and that such a gift becomes imperishable.
Primarily ritual-ethical charity (dāna), specifically anna-dāna. In Purāṇic theology, such charity is often framed as a devotional act when performed with reverence and purity of intention.
Generosity and hospitality—especially providing sustenance—are portrayed as high virtues, with lasting consequences. The verse encourages giving that directly supports life (food and drink) and honoring learned, disciplined recipients.