Shloka 196
Viśokā Dvādaśī Vow, Guḍa-Dhenū (Jaggery-Cow) Gift, and Śaila-Dāna (Mountain-Charity) Rites
विष्कंभपर्वतान्कुर्यात्तुरीयांशेन मानवः । धान्यपर्वतवत्सर्वं हैमांबरसुसंयुतम्
viṣkaṃbhaparvatānkuryātturīyāṃśena mānavaḥ | dhānyaparvatavatsarvaṃ haimāṃbarasusaṃyutam
With a quarter portion, a man should fashion the supporting mountains; everything should be made like the mountain of grain, well furnished with golden garments.
Unspecified (narratorial/ritual-instruction voice within the chapter)
Concept: Ritual action mirrors cosmic structure; constructing sacred forms is a way of aligning human order with universal order.
Application: When performing worship, prioritize accuracy and reverence—make offerings clean, proportionate, and aesthetically respectful, even if simplified.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Artisans and priests assemble miniature ‘supporting mountains’ on a ritual platform, each shaped like a grain-mountain and draped in shimmering golden cloth. The scene feels like a mandala made three-dimensional—geometry, abundance, and devotion fused into a cosmic model.","primary_figures":["ritual priest (hotṛ/ācārya)","craftsmen-devotees","attendant devotees carrying golden cloth"],"setting":"A consecrated pavilion with a raised altar, miniature mountains arranged in quarters, heaps of grain, and folded gold-hued garments.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["antique gold","wheat yellow","copper brown","saffron","smoky blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a ritual mandapa with miniature supporting mountains shaped from grain, each draped in gold cloth; priest overseeing with sacred thread and palm-leaf manual; heavy gold leaf on garments and altar borders, rich reds/greens, jewel-like detailing on vessels and ornaments.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate artisans shaping small mountains on a platform, soft dawn sky, refined faces; cool shadows and warm grain tones, intricate textile patterns on the golden cloth, gentle architectural lines of a pavilion.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized mountains as bold forms, priest in commanding profile, gold cloth rendered as flat luminous yellow; thick black outlines, temple-wall symmetry, red/yellow/green dominance with rhythmic repetition of mountain motifs.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symmetrical altar composition with quartered mountain forms, lotus borders and floral filigree; deep blue background with gold-highlighted cloth drapes, peacocks at corners, devotional ornamentation emphasizing abundance."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["measured drum (mridang)","temple bells","chant cadence","cloth rustle","low priestly hum"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विष्कंभपर्वतान् → विष्कम्भ + पर्वतान्; कुर्यात्तुरीयांशेन → कुर्यात् + तुरीय + अंशेन; धान्यपर्वतवत् → धान्य + पर्वतवत्; हैमांबरसुसंयुतम् → हैम + अम्बर + सु + संयुतम्
FAQs
It refers to “supporting mountains” (viṣkambha-parvatāḥ), echoing Purāṇic cosmography where mountains function as stabilizers/supports of the world-system, here described in a prescriptive, constructed (ritual/imagined) form.
The phrase suggests a ritual model of abundance: the constructed or offered form should resemble a heap/mountain of grain, symbolizing prosperity and plenitude, supplemented by valuable adornment (golden cloth).
The verse implies disciplined, proportional preparation (“one quarter portion”) and generous, beautiful offering—an ethic of orderly giving and reverent craftsmanship in religious acts.