Shloka 31
The Episode of Vena: Purification, the ‘Vāsudevābhidhā’ Hymn, and the Dharma of Charity
Times, Tīrthas, Worthy Recipients
कर्मणा स्वेन विप्रेंद्र पुण्येन नृपनंदन । आत्मार्थे त्वं महाभाग वरमेव प्रयाचय
karmaṇā svena vipreṃdra puṇyena nṛpanaṃdana | ātmārthe tvaṃ mahābhāga varameva prayācaya
ឱ ព្រាហ្មណ៍ដ៏ប្រសើរ ឱ ព្រះរាជបុត្រា—ដោយបុណ្យកុសលពីកម្មរបស់ខ្លួន ឱ អ្នកមានភាគល្អ សូមអង្វរពរ សម្រាប់សេចក្តីកុសលខាងវិញ្ញាណរបស់ខ្លួនតែប៉ុណ្ណោះ។
Unspecified (contextual narrator/sage addressing a prince and a leading brāhmaṇa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Sandhi Resolution Notes: आत्मार्थे = आत्म + अर्थे (समास/तत्पुरुष); वरमेव = वरम् + एव
FAQs
It advises the listener to request a boon that serves one’s own highest good (ātmārtha), grounded in one’s accumulated merit (puṇya) from personal deeds (sva-karma).
Ātmārthe means “for the sake of the Self,” i.e., for one’s true welfare—often implying spiritual benefit rather than merely worldly gain.
It stresses personal responsibility: one’s own actions generate merit, and that merit should be used wisely—seeking boons that support inner, lasting well-being.