Shloka 13
Pitṛ-tīrtha Context: Marks of Sin, Śrāddha Discipline, and Karmic Ripening
in Yayāti’s Narrative
यजमानगृहे सेवा संस्थितान्ब्राह्मणान्निजान् । परित्यज्य हि यद्दानं न दानस्य च लक्षणम्
yajamānagṛhe sevā saṃsthitānbrāhmaṇānnijān | parityajya hi yaddānaṃ na dānasya ca lakṣaṇam
યજમાનના ગૃહમાં સેવામાં હાજર પોતાના બ્રાહ્મણોને અવગણીને જે દાન આપવામાં આવે, તે દાનનું સાચું લક્ષણ નથી.
Unspecified (contextual dialogue not provided for this single verse)
Concept: Charity given elsewhere while neglecting the brāhmaṇas already present and serving in one’s own sacrificial household fails the very definition (lakṣaṇa) of true dāna.
Application: Prioritize obligations to those directly dependent on you (teachers, elders, staff, guests, priests engaged in your rites) before public-facing donations; ensure gratitude and timely support for those who actually serve.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: city
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Inside a yajña-house, brāhmaṇas sit near the sacred fire with ladles and kusa grass, their service ongoing; yet a messenger departs with gifts meant for distant recipients. The scene contrasts the warm sanctity of the hearth-fire with the cool emptiness of neglected faces, making the moral imbalance visible.","primary_figures":["yajamāna (householder)","brāhmaṇas in service (ṛtvij-like)","a messenger carrying gifts","a silent witness figure symbolizing Dharma"],"setting":"domestic yajña-śālā: altar, agni, vessels, kusa mats, hanging garlands; doorway framing the departing messenger","lighting_mood":"firelit interior with moral chiaroscuro","color_palette":["saffron flame","ash white","copper brown","leaf green","midnight blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: interior yajña-śālā with Agni rendered in stylized gold leaf flames; brāhmaṇas seated with ritual implements; the yajamāna distracted as a servant carries a gift tray outward; rich reds/greens, heavy jewelry, gold embossing on vessels and borders, moral focus on the neglected officiants’ calm yet wounded expressions.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate household ritual scene with delicate brushwork; soft firelight on faces; a doorway opening to a cool blue exterior where the messenger exits; refined textiles, subtle emotion, and a small sacred fire painted with fine orange gradations.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines; Agni central with decorative flames; brāhmaṇas with characteristic large eyes; the yajamāna turned away; strong red/yellow/green palette; symbolic emphasis on service and neglect through posture and gaze.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional domestic tableau framed by floral borders; stylized lotus and creeper motifs; include subtle Vaishnava emblems (śaṅkha-cakra) on the gift tray to show dāna as an offering to Viṣṇu, while the true recipients sit near the sacred fire; deep blues and gold accents."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["crackling sacred fire","soft mantra undertone","gentle bell at cadence","footsteps fading at the doorway"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: संस्थितान्ब्राह्मणान्निजान् = संस्थितान् + ब्राह्मणान् + निजान्; यद्दानं = यत् + दानम्.
FAQs
Charity is deemed improper when someone gives elsewhere while neglecting the brāhmaṇas who are already present and serving in the yajamāna’s (sacrificer’s) household.
It emphasizes prioritizing duty and gratitude—support those who are directly serving and dependent, rather than making showy or misplaced donations.
In a yajña setting, brāhmaṇas officiate and serve; the verse teaches that honoring and sustaining them appropriately is integral to dharma, and neglecting them undermines the very spirit of dāna.