Shloka 51
The Aśūnyaśayanā Vow (Unempty Bed) and the Aṅgāraka Caturthī Observance
चतुर्भुजं हेममयं च ताम्रपात्रे गुडस्योपरि सर्पियुक्तम् । सामस्वरज्ञाय जितेंद्रियाय वाग्रूपशीलान्वयसंयुताय
caturbhujaṃ hemamayaṃ ca tāmrapātre guḍasyopari sarpiyuktam | sāmasvarajñāya jiteṃdriyāya vāgrūpaśīlānvayasaṃyutāya
A four-armed image of gold—set in a copper vessel, placed upon jaggery and mingled with ghee—(is to be offered) to one who knows the melodies of the Sāman chants, has conquered the senses, and is endowed with refined speech, dignified form, good conduct, and noble lineage.
Unspecified (context-dependent within Adhyāya 24; likely a narrator describing a ritual gift/qualification)
Concept: A gift becomes ‘fit’ through both correct material preparation and the worthiness (adhikāra) of the recipient—learning, self-control, and character are essential.
Application: Support teachers and practitioners who embody restraint and integrity; evaluate recipients by conduct and service, not by display.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A luminous four-armed golden Viṣṇu icon rests within a polished copper vessel, elevated on a mound of jaggery glazed with ghee, as if the sweetness of offering supports the sweetness of devotion. A serene Sāmaveda-knowing brāhmaṇa, composed and self-restrained, receives the consecrated vessel while the donor bows with folded hands.","primary_figures":["caturbhuja golden Viṣṇu icon (arcā)","Sāmaveda-knowing brāhmaṇa (jitendriya)","householder donor"],"setting":"ritual platform with copperware, ghee ladle, jaggery blocks, kusa grass seat, palm-leaf manuscripts of Sāman chants","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["molten gold","polished copper","honey amber","ghee ivory","deep maroon"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central caturbhuja golden Viṣṇu icon in a gleaming copper vessel placed atop jaggery and ghee; thick gold leaf on the icon and vessel highlights, ruby-green ornamental borders, gem-studded jewelry on the brāhmaṇa recipient, symmetrical altar with lamps and conch, rich South Indian iconographic detailing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate ritual exchange with fine brushwork; copper vessel and golden icon delicately shaded, jaggery rendered as translucent amber; brāhmaṇa with calm refined face, simple white garments; soft background architecture and a hint of hills, lyrical naturalism and patterned textiles.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, flat pigments; caturbhuja icon stylized with large eyes and ornate crown; copper vessel and jaggery-ghee base simplified into strong shapes; warm red-yellow-green palette, temple-wall framing with floral borders and lamp motifs.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Viṣṇu icon as the devotional center surrounded by lotus vines and symmetrical floral borders; copper vessel and offerings stylized; deep blue background with gold accents, small peacocks at corners, intricate textile-like patterning."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["tanpura drone","soft conch shell","ghee crackle in lamp","gentle bell chimes","hushed Vedic intonation"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गुडस्योपरि = गुडस्य + उपरि; जितेंद्रियाय = जित + इन्द्रियाय (नासिक्य-लोप/अनुस्वार-लेखनभेद); वाग्रूपशीलान्वयसंयुताय treated as multi-member tatpurusha: (वाक्-रूप-शील-अन्वय)-संयुताय.
FAQs
It describes a dāna/ritual offering: a golden, four-armed image arranged in a copper vessel with jaggery and ghee, intended for a qualified recipient.
It reflects the Purāṇic dharma principle that gifts bear their fullest merit when offered to a deserving person—one disciplined, learned, and ethically established.
It points to Vedic competence—specifically mastery of Sāmaveda chanting and its melodic intonations—marking the recipient as learned and ritually authoritative.