Shloka 68
Determination of the Householder’s Dharma
Dāna: Types, Recipients, Timing, and Fruits
न पाखंडेषु सर्वेषु नावेदविदिधर्मवित् । रूप्यं चैव हिरण्यं च गामश्वं पृथिवीं तिलान्
na pākhaṃḍeṣu sarveṣu nāvedavididharmavit | rūpyaṃ caiva hiraṇyaṃ ca gāmaśvaṃ pṛthivīṃ tilān
કોઈપણ પાખંડ માર્ગોમાં પ્રવૃત્ત ન થવું અને વેદવિધિપ્રમાણે ધર્મથી અજ્ઞાની ન રહેવું. ચાંદી-સોનું, ગાય-ઘોડો, જમીન અને તલ—આ બધું સ્વીકારવું/વ્યવહાર કરવો નહીં.
Unspecified (verse excerpt; speaker not identifiable from this single shloka alone)
Concept: Avoid pāṣaṇḍa (heterodox/anti-vedic paths) and ignorance of Vedic dharma; refrain from accepting or trafficking in high-value gifts (gold, silver, land, cattle, horses, tila) that can bind or corrupt when handled without qualification.
Application: Choose teachers and communities rooted in ethical discipline; keep finances transparent and modest; avoid greed-driven accumulation, especially around religious roles or sacred services.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A disciplined āśrama scene: a young dvija stands before a venerable teacher, turning away from a glittering heap of gold, silver, land deeds, and livestock tokens offered by dubious figures. In the background, a Vedic fire burns steadily, and palm-leaf manuscripts rest beside a tulasī pot, symbolizing scriptural dharma over tempting wealth.","primary_figures":["ācārya (Veda-knower)","dvija student","dubious donors (symbolic pāṣaṇḍa figures)"],"setting":"Forest hermitage with yajña-śālā, fire altar, manuscripts, and simple huts.","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["smoke gray","saffron","leaf green","burnished gold","earth brown"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central ācārya near a glowing homa-kuṇḍa, student in humble attire refusing ornate gold and silver; gold-leaf accents on the rejected wealth, rich red-green background textiles, stylized cows and horses at the margins, sacred fire rendered with luminous highlights.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: quiet Himalayan-forest āśrama with delicate trees and a small fire altar; refined figures, subtle gesture of refusal, cool greens and browns, minimal gold, lyrical restraint and moral clarity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines—teacher and student near a stylized fire altar; rejected wealth depicted as bright yellow-gold forms contrasted against earthy greens; expressive eyes and didactic posture, temple-wall composition.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: moral vignette framed by lotus and floral borders; central fire altar and manuscript motifs; wealth symbols (coins, cattle) pushed to the periphery; deep blue background with gold highlights used sparingly to emphasize temptation resisted."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["crackling sacred fire","forest birds","rustle of leaves","soft bell at mantra cadence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नावेदविदिधर्मवित् = न + अवेदविदि-धर्मवित्; गामश्वम् = गाम् + अश्वम्; the verse is elliptical: prohibition of giving/accepting (context from surrounding verses) among pākhaṇḍas etc.
FAQs
It advises avoiding all pākhaṇḍa—paths seen as opposed to Vedic dharma—and emphasizes alignment with dharma grounded in Vedic injunctions.
They represent valuable forms of wealth and property (money, livestock, land, and ritual commodities). The verse frames them as things one should not accept or be entangled with in the ethical context being described.
The verse links spiritual integrity with two principles: (1) fidelity to Vedic dharma rather than misleading doctrines, and (2) restraint from material acquisition or transactional entanglement with high-value possessions.