Shloka 69
Determination of the Householder’s Dharma
Dāna: Types, Recipients, Timing, and Fruits
अविद्वान्प्रतिगृह्णीयाद्भस्मी भवति काष्ठवत् । द्विजातिभ्यो धनं लिप्सेत्प्रशस्तेभ्यो द्विजोतमः
avidvānpratigṛhṇīyādbhasmī bhavati kāṣṭhavat | dvijātibhyo dhanaṃ lipsetpraśastebhyo dvijotamaḥ
Si un homme sans savoir accepte des dons, il devient cendre, tel le bois consumé. Ainsi, le meilleur des deux-fois-nés (dvija) ne doit rechercher des biens qu’auprès de donateurs dvija dignes et louables.
Not explicitly identifiable from the single verse excerpt (context needed from surrounding verses in Svargakhaṇḍa 57).
Concept: Unqualified acceptance of gifts is spiritually destructive; a dvija should seek support only from prashasta (commendable, worthy) donors among the twice-born, preserving purity and learning.
Application: If you hold a teaching/ritual role, maintain competence and integrity before accepting patronage; as a donor, give to qualified, ethical recipients; as a recipient, prefer transparent, dharmic sources.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A stark allegory: an unlearned recipient reaches for a gift, and behind him his silhouette turns to ash, drifting like burnt wood, while a sacred fire altar glows unmoved. In contrast, a learned dvija stands composed, accepting a modest, sanctified offering from a dignified worthy donor, with scriptures and a water-pot beside him.","primary_figures":["unlearned recipient (symbolic)","learned dvija","worthy dvija donor","Agni (symbolic presence in fire altar)"],"setting":"Yajña-śālā with homa-kuṇḍa, ladles, kusa grass, and palm-leaf manuscripts.","lighting_mood":"dramatic chiaroscuro","color_palette":["ember orange","charcoal black","ash white","saffron","bronze"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central homa fire with gold-leaf flames, two contrasting figures—one turning to ash in stylized gray-white textures, the other serene with scripture and sacred thread; ornate borders, rich reds, heavy gold accents on the altar and halo-like radiance around the qualified dvija.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate moral contrast—softly painted fire altar, subtle ash effect like pale wash dispersing from the unlearned figure; refined faces, restrained palette, quiet didactic mood with fine border patterns.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines—ash transformation rendered as layered gray-white bands; fire altar in bright yellow-red; learned dvija in calm posture with clear iconographic markers, temple-wall narrative clarity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: narrative vignette framed by floral borders; central fire altar and manuscript motifs; ash swirl stylized as decorative cloud forms; deep blue background with orange-gold fire highlights, symmetrical composition."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["crackling fire","single bell strike","low drone","brief hush after ‘bhasmī bhavati’"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अविद्वान्प्रतिगृह्णीयात् = अविद्वान् + प्रतिगृह्णीयात्; प्रतिगृह्णीयाद्भस्मी = प्रतिगृह्णीयात् + भस्मी; लिप्सेत्प्रशस्तेभ्यः = लिप्सेत् + प्रशस्तेभ्यः; द्विजोतमः = द्विजोत्तमः (orthographic simplification in IAST).
FAQs
It warns that accepting gifts without learning and merit is spiritually harmful, and advises seeking support only through worthy, ethical sources.
It uses a vivid metaphor for moral and spiritual ruin: improper acceptance of gifts can “burn up” one’s integrity and religious standing.
No. It restricts acceptance/solicitation to proper conditions—especially worthiness of both recipient (learning/discipline) and donor (praśasta, virtuous).