Shloka 76
Tīrtha-Māhātmya Sequence: Sacred Fords, Baths, Gifts, and Śrāddha
Narmadā-Belt Itinerary
तत्र स्नात्वा तु राजेंद्र दानं दत्वा च शक्तितः । तस्य तीर्थप्रभावेण दत्तं भवति चाक्षयम्
tatra snātvā tu rājeṃdra dānaṃ datvā ca śaktitaḥ | tasya tīrthaprabhāveṇa dattaṃ bhavati cākṣayam
O König der Könige, wer dort badet und nach Kräften Almosen gibt, dessen Gabe wird—durch die Macht dieses tīrtha—unvergänglich.
Not explicitly stated in the provided excerpt (contextually a narrator/teacher addressing a king as 'rājendra')
Concept: Charity given after sacred bathing, proportionate to one’s capacity, becomes akṣaya through tīrtha-prabhāva.
Application: Give regularly without strain or vanity; pair generosity with purification—simple acts like bathing, prayer, and mindful giving—so that dāna becomes a spiritual discipline rather than a transaction.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Pilgrims emerge from the Narmadā with wet hair and folded hands, then place coins, grain, and cloth into the hands of a waiting brāhmaṇa and the poor, beneath the shadow of the Sun-temple gateway. The river glitters behind them, suggesting that the tīrtha itself seals the gift into imperishable merit.","primary_figures":["Pilgrim donor (householder)","Brāhmaṇa recipient","Poor/elderly recipient (optional)","Temple priest","Narmadā (river presence)"],"setting":"Stone ghāṭa on Narmadā, donation pavilion (dāna-śālā) near the Āditya temple, baskets of grain, copper vessels, prayer flags","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["warm amber","copper bronze","river teal","saffron cloth","stone gray"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: foreground donor offering cloth and coins to a seated brāhmaṇa under a carved mandapa, thick gold leaf highlighting jewelry, donation vessels, and temple arch; background shows the Narmadā with stylized waves and a glowing sun emblem above the sanctum, rich reds/greens and ornate borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate riverside charity scene with delicate lines; donors in simple garments, recipients with gentle expressions; cool river tones and soft dawn light, the Sun-temple rendered as a small architectural jewel, emphasis on humane tenderness and restraint.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized figures in profile with bold outlines; the act of dāna centered, with ritual vessels and lamp flames; dominant reds and yellows, green river band, decorative lotus and vine motifs framing the moral act.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symmetrical composition—central mandapa where dāna occurs, flanked by lotus borders and peacocks; deep blue river behind, gold detailing on vessels and temple motifs; devotional atmosphere with patterned textiles and floral filigree."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["flowing water","coin clink (soft)","temple bells","murmured mantras"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: cākṣayam = ca + akṣayam (Savarna Dirgha Sandhi).
FAQs
It recommends bathing at the sacred tīrtha and giving charity according to one’s capacity.
It means the spiritual merit (puṇya) of the donation does not diminish; it yields enduring results due to the tīrtha’s sanctifying power.
Charity should be given sincerely within one’s means; even modest giving becomes highly fruitful when done with reverence in a sacred context.