Shloka 40
Dharmāṅgada’s Discourse (Dharmāṅgadopadeśa) in the Mohinī Episode
दुर्लभं कांचनं दानं दुर्लभं हरिपूजनम् । दुर्लभा वैष्णवी दीक्षा दुर्लभः स्मृतिसंग्रहः ॥ ४० ॥
durlabhaṃ kāṃcanaṃ dānaṃ durlabhaṃ haripūjanam | durlabhā vaiṣṇavī dīkṣā durlabhaḥ smṛtisaṃgrahaḥ || 40 ||
Rare indeed is the gifting of gold; rare is the worship of Hari. Rare is Vaiṣṇava initiation (dīkṣā), and rare is the true compendium of Smṛti—rightly preserved and gathered.
Narada (teaching within the Uttara-Bhaga context; dialogue tradition commonly framed with Sanatkumara lineage)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It ranks four hard-to-attain treasures of dharma—pure charity (gold-dāna), sincere worship of Hari, authentic Vaiṣṇava initiation, and reliable preservation of Smṛti—implying that true religious life requires rarity-grade sincerity, not mere social custom.
By declaring haripūjanam and vaiṣṇavī dīkṣā as “rare,” it emphasizes that genuine Bhakti arises from commitment, guidance, and consecration—worship supported by right practice and lineage rather than occasional ritual.
Indirectly, it points to Dharma-śāstra/Smṛti transmission as a practical knowledge system—how rules of conduct, ritual duties, and tradition are accurately compiled and preserved (a prerequisite for correct ritual application).