Shloka 123
Rāma’s Meeting with Agastya: Gift-Ethics (Dāna) and the Tale of King Śveta
येन लोकोऽक्षयः स्वर्गो भविता त्वत्कृतेन मे । ततः प्रतिग्रहो दत्तो जगद्वंद्य नृपेण हि
yena loko'kṣayaḥ svargo bhavitā tvatkṛtena me | tataḥ pratigraho datto jagadvaṃdya nṛpeṇa hi
Durch deine Tat wird mir ein unvergänglicher Himmel zuteil. Darum hat der König dir, o vom Weltkreis Verehrter, wahrlich das Recht verliehen, die Gabe anzunehmen.
Unspecified (context needed to attribute the dialogue reliably within Adhyaya 36)
Concept: Right action performed through another’s agency can yield enduring heavenly merit; proper acceptance of gifts (pratigraha) is itself regulated by dharma.
Application: Give responsibly and receive responsibly: ensure the gift is ethical, the intention is pure, and the exchange supports dharma rather than vanity.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The king, humbled yet relieved, speaks of an ‘akṣaya svarga’ arising from the holy one’s deed, and formally offers a gift with ritual propriety. The revered recipient stands poised, the moment balanced between worldly wealth and otherworldly merit, as attendants hold trays of cloth, gold, and grains.","primary_figures":["The King (rājā)","Revered recipient (jagad-vandya)","Attendants bearing gifts"],"setting":"Royal hall with a dharma-seat; offering trays, water vessel for sankalpa, and a small lamp indicating sacred transaction.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["antique gold","royal blue","cream white","vermillion","olive green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: the king presenting dakṣiṇā with both hands; the recipient with a gold halo and ornate arch; gold leaf on coins, vessels, and borders; rich textiles and gem-studded ornaments; inscriptions of ‘akṣaya’ motifs in decorative gold script.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: refined court scene with soft pastel architecture; the king’s respectful posture; delicate rendering of gift trays (cloth, grains, gold); calm faces, gentle light, minimal but elegant ornamentation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized palace interior, bold outlines; the exchange of gifts central; warm yellow background, red-green borders; ritual vessel and lamp emphasized as dharmic markers.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ceremonial offering framed by lotus borders; deep blue field with gold floral motifs; attendants symmetrically arranged; the concept of ‘akṣaya’ suggested through repeating lotus and conch patterns."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["soft drum (mridang) pulse","coin clink","mantra-like murmurs","temple bell","courtly hush"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: लोकः+अक्षयः→लोकोऽक्षयः; त्वत्+कृतेन→त्वत्कृतेन; जगत्+वन्द्य→जगद्वन्द्य (जगत्→जगद् before voiced consonant)
FAQs
It frames “pratigraha” as something that should be granted or sanctioned in a dharmic context—here, justified by the recipient’s meritorious act and formally allowed by the king.
It indicates the enduring spiritual fruit (puṇya-phala) attributed to the deed being praised—suggesting that the action yields lasting heavenly merit.
Merit and rightful conduct legitimize rewards: a good deed leads to lasting spiritual benefit, and material/ritual transactions (like gifts) are ideally regulated by dharma and proper authority.