Shloka 153
Viśokā Dvādaśī Vow, Guḍa-Dhenū (Jaggery-Cow) Gift, and Śaila-Dāna (Mountain-Charity) Rites
पूर्ववच्चापरं सर्वं विष्कंभपर्वतादिकम् । दानमंत्रं प्रवक्ष्यामि यथा च नृपपुंगव
pūrvavaccāparaṃ sarvaṃ viṣkaṃbhaparvatādikam | dānamaṃtraṃ pravakṣyāmi yathā ca nṛpapuṃgava
Sebagaimana sebelumnya, segala hal lain—mulai dari gunung Viṣkambha dan seterusnya—telah dijelaskan. Kini, wahai yang terbaik di antara para raja, akan kuucapkan mantra dana sebagaimana adanya.
Pulastya (narrator-sage) to Bhīṣma (addressed as nṛpa-puṅgava)
Concept: Ritual gifts require mantra and correct sequence; dharma is transmitted as a precise, repeatable tradition.
Application: When adopting a spiritual practice, learn the method from a reliable source; keep continuity—don’t improvise core elements that carry intention and sanctity.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Pulastya, seated beneath a sacred tree, unrolls a palm-leaf manuscript while explaining the gift-mantra to Bhīṣma, who listens with warrior-poise softened into reverence. Behind them, symbolic ‘mountains’—Viṣkambha and other parvata-dānas—appear as faint, diagram-like forms, as if the rite is being mapped in sacred speech.","primary_figures":["Pulastya","Bhīṣma"],"setting":"Forest hermitage classroom with palm-leaf texts, kusa mats, small altar, distant silhouettes of symbolic mountains","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["sage green","bark brown","sunlit gold","ink black","clay red"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Pulastya teaching Bhīṣma with a manuscript and ritual altar, with stylized mountain-icons behind; gold leaf halos, rich red background, ornate borders, detailed jewelry and textiles, formal devotional posture.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: quiet hermitage lesson with delicate trees, soft shadows, and refined expressions; Bhīṣma in modest royal attire, Pulastya gesturing toward a manuscript; cool greens and blues, fine linework, lyrical naturalism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined two-figure teaching scene, Pulastya’s hand in instruction mudrā, Bhīṣma with folded hands; patterned background with symbolic mountain motifs, strong red/yellow/green pigments and temple-wall framing.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central seated sage and listener framed by floral borders and hanging lamps; background filled with stylized mountain and lotus motifs, deep blue ground with gold detailing, intricate textile-like patterning."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["page-like palm-leaf rustle","tanpura drone","forest birds","soft bell at mantra cues"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pūrvavat ca → pūrvavaccā (c + a → ccā); viṣkambha-parvata-ādikam is a tatpuruṣa with ādi-kam as ‘etc.’; dāna-mantram is tatpuruṣa.
FAQs
It transitions from prior descriptions (including items like the Viṣkambha mountain) to the teaching of the proper mantra/formula to be recited when making gifts (dāna).
The verse addresses the listener as “foremost of kings,” traditionally identifying Bhīṣma as the royal interlocutor in the Pulastya–Bhīṣma dialogue framework.
It underscores that charity (dāna) is not only an act but also a disciplined rite, to be performed with correct intention and prescribed recitation, aligning generosity with dharma.