Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 54
Karmic Causality, Fate, and the Supremacy of Food-Charity
within Guru-tīrtha Glorification
अक्षयं जायते तस्य दानस्यापि महाफलम् । न च प्रस्थं न वा मुष्टिं नरस्य हि न संभवेत्
akṣayaṃ jāyate tasya dānasyāpi mahāphalam | na ca prasthaṃ na vā muṣṭiṃ narasya hi na saṃbhavet
Dari dana itu lahir pahala yang tak berkurang (akṣaya) dan buah yang amat besar. Sebab bagi manusia tak mungkin sama sekali tiada takaran prastha, bahkan segenggam pun tiada untuk diberikan.
Unspecified (context not provided for this isolated śloka; likely narrator within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa dialogue tradition)
Concept: Food-giving yields akṣaya (imperishable) great fruit; no one is so poor that they cannot give at least a handful or a small measure.
Application: Remove the ‘I have nothing’ excuse: share a handful, a cup, or a small portion; institutionalize tiny giving (grain box, daily prasāda share).
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A poor laborer opens a small cloth pouch and pours a modest measure of grain into a mendicant’s bowl; the grain transforms into an endless stream of luminous seeds that never run out. Behind them, a faint cosmic lotus motif suggests imperishability—akṣaya—rooted in dharma rather than wealth.","primary_figures":["poor donor (laborer/householder)","mendicant or brāhmaṇa recipient","subtle lotus-cosmos motif"],"setting":"market-edge or village lane with grain sacks, earthen pots, a distant temple spire","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["indigo shadow","grain gold","dusty ochre","lotus pink","silver-white glow"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: dramatic akṣaya miracle—small prastha measure of grain becoming an endless golden cascade; gold leaf heavily used for the stream and halos; rich reds/greens, ornate temple arch border, detailed jewelry on a small Viṣṇu emblem in the corner blessing the act.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: poignant village lane scene, delicate expressions of humility; the grain stream rendered as fine golden dots; cool indigo background with warm ochres; distant temple spire and soft sky gradients.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, stylized grain stream as repeating golden motifs; donor and recipient in iconic poses; strong red/yellow/green fields with a lotus mandala behind them.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: akṣaya motif integrated into lotus borders—grain becomes lotus-seeds forming an infinite garland; deep blue cloth ground with gold linework; symmetrical framing with peacocks and floral vines."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["soft conch shell","temple bells in distance","wind through lane","gentle grain-pour rustle"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dānasyāpi = dānasya + api; mahāphalam = mahā + phalam; saṃbhavet from sam + bhū.
FAQs
It teaches that even small acts of giving yield imperishable merit, and that most people can give at least something—if not a full measure (prastha), then at least a handful (muṣṭi).
They represent accessible levels of donation: a standard measurable quantity (prastha, often of grain/food) versus a minimal amount (a fistful), emphasizing that charity is feasible at any capacity.
It emphasizes personal responsibility and the universality of generosity: one should not claim inability to give, because some small offering is generally within reach.