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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

Bila orang yang tidak berilmu menerima pemberian, ia menjadi abu, bagaikan kayu yang terbakar. Karena itu, yang terbaik di antara para dvija hendaknya mencari harta hanya dari para dvija pemberi yang terpuji dan layak.

अविद्वान्an ignorant person
अविद्वान्:
कर्ता (कर्ता-कारक / Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootअ + विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (Singular)
प्रतिगृह्णीयात्should accept
प्रतिगृह्णीयात्:
क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया / Main verb)
TypeVerb
Rootप्रति + ग्रह् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम् (Singular), परस्मैपदम्
भस्मीashes
भस्मी:
विधेय (predicate complement)
TypeNoun
Rootभस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (Singular); अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (as predicate noun)
भवतिbecomes
भवति:
क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया / Main verb)
TypeVerb
Rootभू (धातु)
Formलट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम् (Singular), परस्मैपदम्
काष्ठवत्like wood
काष्ठवत्:
क्रियाविशेषण (manner)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकाष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
Formवत्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (simile adverb: like/as)
द्विजातिभ्यःfrom the twice-born (classes)
द्विजातिभ्यः:
अपादान (source)
TypeNoun
Rootद्विजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे (Masculine), पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (Ablative/5th) बहुवचनम् (Plural) [अर्थे: from/among]
धनम्wealth
धनम्:
कर्म (कर्म-कारक / Object)
TypeNoun
Rootधन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम् (Singular)
लिप्सेत्should desire/seek
लिप्सेत्:
क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया / Main verb)
TypeVerb
Rootलिप्स् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम् (Singular), परस्मैपदम्
प्रशस्तेभ्यःfrom the commendable/approved (ones)
प्रशस्तेभ्यः:
अपादान-विशेषण (qualifier of source)
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रशस्त (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-कृदन्त from प्रशंस्)
Formपुंलिङ्गे (Masculine), पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (Ablative/5th), बहुवचनम् (Plural)
द्विजोत्तमःthe best brāhmaṇa/twice-born
द्विजोत्तमः:
कर्ता (कर्ता-कारक / Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootद्विज + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
Formपुंलिङ्गे (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (Singular); कर्मधारय-तत्पुरुषः (best among the twice-born)

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).