Shloka 139
The Tale of the Five Pretas and the Glory of Puṣkara & the Eastern Sarasvatī
यस्तत्र ब्रह्मभक्तानां नरः स्नात्वा ददेद्धनम् । कृसेरणापि हेम्ना च स स्वर्गे मोदते सुखी
yastatra brahmabhaktānāṃ naraḥ snātvā dadeddhanam | kṛseraṇāpi hemnā ca sa svarge modate sukhī
Wer dort badet und den Brahmā-Verehrern Almosen an Reichtum gibt—sei es auch nur ein feines Körnchen Gold—der frohlockt glücklich im Himmel.
Unspecified (narratorial/teaching voice within the Adhyaya context)
Concept: Snāna at a sacred place, joined with even minimal dāna to worthy recipients, produces great heavenly merit.
Application: Pair acts of purification (self-discipline, prayer, bathing/cleanliness) with tangible charity; do not delay giving because the amount is small—intent and context matter.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A pilgrim, fresh from bathing, stands on a riverbank altar of smooth stones, offering a tiny flake of gold into the hands of serene Brahmā-devotees. The air feels cleansed and luminous, as if the merit itself has become visible—subtle halos around giver and recipients, with distant celestial chariots hinted in the sky.","primary_figures":["pilgrim donor","Brahmā-bhaktas (learned devotees)","river deity presence (subtle)"],"setting":"ancient tīrtha ghat with steps, kusa grass, small fire-altar, water pots, and a calm river flowing past sacred trees","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["river-jade green","sunrise saffron","gold leaf","ash-white","deep maroon"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a sacred river ghat at dawn, pilgrim offering a tiny gold particle to Brahmā-devotees seated on a red cloth, ornate halos, heavy gold leaf embellishment on jewelry and aureoles, rich vermilion and emerald accents, traditional South Indian iconographic symmetry, temple-lamp motifs framing the scene.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate riverbank scene with soft dawn gradient, refined faces of ascetic Brahmā-bhaktas, the donor extending a minute gold flake, lyrical trees and birds, cool greens and warm saffron sky, fine linework and gentle shading, distant hills faintly visible.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, natural pigment palette, stylized river waves, donor and Brahmā-devotees with large expressive eyes, red-yellow-green dominance, decorative borders with lotus and conch motifs, sacred calm conveyed through frontal poses.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: riverbank framed by intricate floral borders and lotus motifs, devotional atmosphere with subtle Vaishnava symbols (conch, discus) in the border, figures arranged ceremonially, deep indigo background with gold highlights, peacocks near the water, ornate textile-like detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["flowing water","temple bells","soft conch shell","morning birds"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यस्+तत्र→यस्तत्र; ददेत्+धनम्→ददेद्धनम्; कृसेरणा+अपि→कृसेरणापि; स्वर्गे (सप्तमी) + मोदते (क्रिया) — पदविभागः।
FAQs
It links sacred bathing with dāna: after bathing at the specified holy place, giving charity—especially to Brahmā’s devotees—produces heavenly merit (svarga-phala).
No. It explicitly says that even a very small amount of gold given in charity yields auspicious results, emphasizing sincerity over quantity.
Honor holy observance with generosity: spiritual practice is completed by compassionate giving, particularly toward devoted and worthy recipients.