Shloka 162
Viśokā Dvādaśī Vow, Guḍa-Dhenū (Jaggery-Cow) Gift, and Śaila-Dāna (Mountain-Charity) Rites
तेजोमयं घृतं पुण्यंमहापातकनाशनम् । विंशत्या घृतकुंभानामुत्तमः स्याद्घृताचलः
tejomayaṃ ghṛtaṃ puṇyaṃmahāpātakanāśanam | viṃśatyā ghṛtakuṃbhānāmuttamaḥ syādghṛtācalaḥ
Le ghee, fait d’une essence de splendeur, est sacré et détruit même les grands péchés. Parmi vingt jarres de ghee, l’offrande la plus excellente est la « montagne de ghee », Ghṛtācala.
Unspecified (context-dependent within Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa narration)
Concept: Sāttvika substances offered with dharmic intent—here ghee as ‘tejo-maya’—carry extraordinary purificatory power, even against mahāpātakas.
Application: Use resources (food, wealth, time) as offerings and charity; prioritize purity, gratitude, and consistency over display.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: mountain
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ceremonial platform holds a gleaming ‘mountain’ sculpted from pots and flowing ghee, its surface catching light like liquid gold. Priests arrange twenty ghee-kumbhas around it, while the central Ghṛtācala rises higher, crowned with a small kalasha and garlands. The atmosphere is thick with incense and the warm glow of clarified butter lamps, suggesting sin melting away like ghee in fire.","primary_figures":["Vedic priests (ṛtviks)","Householder donor (yajamāna)","Assistants carrying ghṛta-kumbhas"],"setting":"Ritual pavilion (maṇḍapa) with altar, rows of ghee pots, and a central ghee ‘mountain’","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["molten gold","ivory","sandalwood beige","marigold orange","smoke gray"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central Ghṛtācala rendered as a radiant golden mound with thick gold leaf highlights; priests in white with red borders chant beside a decorated altar; twenty ghee pots arranged symmetrically; ornate arches, rich crimson and emerald backdrops, gem-like detailing on kalashas and jewelry, traditional South Indian iconographic framing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate ritual scene under a canopy; the ghee mountain glows softly, surrounded by neatly painted pots; delicate faces of priests, fine textile patterns, gentle morning light, pale smoke curls, refined naturalism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined ritual pavilion with stylized flames and lamps; Ghṛtācala as a bright yellow-gold form with patterned texture; priests with characteristic eye shapes; natural pigment palette, ornamental borders with lotus and lamp motifs.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symmetrical arrangement of ghṛta-kumbhas around a central golden hill; intricate floral borders, lotus motifs, hanging lamps; deep blue background with gold accents, highly detailed patterns and ceremonial abundance."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"celebratory","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["ghee lamps crackling","Vedic chant undertone","temple bells","conch shell","incense smoke hush"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पुण्यम् + महापातकनाशनम् → पुण्यंमहापातकनाशनम्; घृतकुंभानाम् + उत्तमः → घृतकुंभानामुत्तमः; स्यात् + घृताचलः → syādghṛtācalaḥ (स्याद्घृताचलः)
FAQs
It praises ghṛta (ghee) as a highly meritorious ritual substance and elevates a large-scale offering—symbolically called a ghṛtācala (“mountain of ghee”)—as superior even to multiple pots of ghee.
It states that ghee, when used/offered in a sacred context (such as dāna or yajña-related giving), is regarded as capable of destroying the effects of grave sins (mahāpātaka) within the text’s ritual-ethical framework.
It promotes generosity and reverence in religious giving—emphasizing that sincere, substantial offerings made with purity are considered spiritually transformative.