Shloka 10
The Tale of the Five Pretas and the Glory of Puṣkara & the Eastern Sarasvatī
इष्टापूर्तसमायुक्तो युक्तो द्वंद्वविवर्जने । स्वकर्मविधिसंयुक्तो युक्तः स्वाध्यायकर्मसु
iṣṭāpūrtasamāyukto yukto dvaṃdvavivarjane | svakarmavidhisaṃyukto yuktaḥ svādhyāyakarmasu
彼は iṣṭa と pūrta――敬虔な祭儀と公共の施し――に励み、対立する二相を離れることに身を鍛え、自己の務めの正しい規定にかなって、スヴァーディヤーヤ（自誦・学習）と定められた行為の実践に堅く立つ。
Not specified in the provided excerpt (context needed from surrounding verses).
Concept: A balanced religious life integrates iṣṭa (Vedic/ritual worship) and pūrta (public welfare/charity), cultivates freedom from dualities, and remains faithful to one’s svadharma through study and prescribed acts.
Application: Maintain a twofold ledger: (1) daily/weekly worship or japa (iṣṭa), (2) regular service/charity (pūrta). Practice equanimity by pausing before reacting to praise/blame; keep a small svādhyāya routine (10–20 minutes).
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A composed sādhaka stands between two symbolic scales labeled ‘iṣṭa’ and ‘pūrta’: on one side, a small fire-altar and japa beads; on the other, a well, a rest-house, and food being offered to the needy. Behind him, swirling pairs of opposites—heat/cold, praise/blame—fade into calm as he opens a palm-leaf manuscript for svādhyāya.","primary_figures":["a sādhaka/householder","recipients of charity","a priestly figure near a small altar"],"setting":"river-adjacent village edge with a charity well and a modest yajña platform; palm-leaf manuscripts and a low wooden desk","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["saffron","smoke gray","river blue","palm-leaf tan","gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central sādhaka with serene face holding palm-leaf scripture and mālā; left panel shows a small yajña altar (iṣṭa), right panel shows charity—feeding and a public well (pūrta); gold leaf radiance around the figure, rich crimson and emerald accents, ornate borders, stylized flames and brass vessels with gem-like highlights.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: narrative split-scene with delicate brushwork—soft landscape, a small homa-kunda under a tree, and nearby villagers receiving water/food; the sādhaka reading a manuscript, cool mountain-like palette, refined expressions, subtle depiction of dvandvas as faint clouds dissolving.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines; the sādhaka in frontal stance with large expressive eyes, manuscript and rosary; symbolic dvandva motifs (sun/moon, hot/cold) at the margins; strong red-yellow-green palette with temple-wall compositional symmetry.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: lotus and floral borders; central figure framed by two devotional vignettes—ritual worship and charity—rendered with intricate textile patterns; include peacocks and cows near a water trough (pūrta), deep blue ground with gold ornamentation and stylized lotuses."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["conch shell (soft)","mantra murmurs","crackling fire","water being poured into a vessel"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इष्टापूर्तसमायुक्तः = इष्टापूर्त-समायुक्तः; स्वकर्मविधिसंयुक्तः = स्वकर्मविधि-संयुक्तः; स्वाध्यायकर्मसु = स्वाध्याय-कर्मसु.
FAQs
It presents a complete dharmic life: iṣṭa refers to ritual/sacrificial religious duties, while pūrta refers to socially beneficial meritorious works (charity, building wells, tanks, temples). Both are valued together.
It advises mental steadiness—remaining even-minded amid pleasure and pain, gain and loss, honor and dishonor—so that one’s duties and spiritual disciplines are not disturbed.
Ethical maturity is shown by performing one’s rightful duties according to proper rules, supported by self-study and disciplined action, rather than acting from impulse or attachment to outcomes.