Shloka 55
The Destruction of Dakṣa’s Sacrifice
सर्वो जनः पुण्यभागी पुण्येन लभते श्रियं । पुण्येन लभते जन्म पुण्ये भोगाः प्रतिष्ठिताः
sarvo janaḥ puṇyabhāgī puṇyena labhate śriyaṃ | puṇyena labhate janma puṇye bhogāḥ pratiṣṭhitāḥ
Jeder Mensch hat Anteil am Verdienst; durch Verdienst erlangt man Glück und Gedeihen. Durch Verdienst erhält man Geburt, und auf Verdienst gründen alle Genüsse.
Unspecified (narrative voice; likely within the Pulastya–Bhīṣma discourse context of Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa)
Concept: Puṇya (merit) is the causal foundation for prosperity, embodied birth, and the capacity to enjoy worldly goods; life’s stations are ethically conditioned.
Application: Treat daily duties, charity, truthfulness, and worship as long-term investments; choose actions that generate puṇya rather than short-lived gain.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A symbolic cosmic balance: on one side, a devotee offers water, lamps, and food in a simple home shrine; on the other, a radiant lotus of Śrī rises, signifying prosperity born of merit. Above, a subtle wheel of karma turns under a calm, unseen divine presence, suggesting that births and enjoyments rest on puṇya.","primary_figures":["a householder devotee","Śrī/Lakṣmī (symbolic presence)","Vishnu (subtle, presiding aura)"],"setting":"Domestic shrine blending into a cosmic mandala backdrop with lotus motifs and a faint karmic wheel","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["gold leaf","lotus pink","deep indigo","sandalwood beige","emerald green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a serene householder before a small Viṣṇu altar, Lakṣmī emerging from a lotus as the personification of śrī, a stylized karma-cakra behind them; heavy gold leaf halos, rich crimson and emerald textiles, gem-studded ornaments, ornate arch (prabhāvali) framing the scene, traditional South Indian iconography and symmetrical composition.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a quiet courtyard shrine scene where a devotee performs dāna and lamp-offering; Lakṣmī appears as a delicate lotus-born vision in the sky; cool indigo shadows, soft pink lotuses, fine linework, lyrical naturalism, distant hills and a pale dawn gradient.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined figures of a devotee and a lotus-throned Lakṣmī, with Viṣṇu’s protective aura suggested by a blue mandala; natural pigment palette, temple-wall aesthetic, large expressive eyes, red-yellow-green dominance with black contours and rhythmic floral borders.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: a devotional tableau with lotus borders and a central lotus of Śrī, subtle Viṣṇu symbols (śaṅkha-cakra) in the corners, attendants offering lamps and tulasī leaves; intricate floral filigree, deep blues and gold, symmetrical Nathdwara-inspired ornamentation."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","low tanpura drone","gentle silence between pādas"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sarvo janaḥ (visarga sandhi); puṇyabhāgī (tatpuruṣa compound); jagatāmīśaḥ etc. not in this verse.
FAQs
It teaches that merit (puṇya) is the underlying cause for prosperity, the conditions of birth, and the capacity to experience worldly enjoyments.
No. It states that enjoyments are supported by merit; it describes causality (puṇya as a foundation) rather than condemning enjoyment itself.
Cultivate dharmic actions that generate puṇya—such as charity, truthfulness, self-restraint, and devotion—because they shape one’s prosperity and life circumstances.