Shloka 26
Fruits of Occasional (Festival-Specific) Charity — The Vena Episode
षोडशैव ततो गावः सवस्त्राः कांस्यदोहनाः । कुंभयुक्ताश्च चत्वारो दक्षिणां च सकांचनाम्
ṣoḍaśaiva tato gāvaḥ savastrāḥ kāṃsyadohanāḥ | kuṃbhayuktāśca catvāro dakṣiṇāṃ ca sakāṃcanām
ನಂತರ ಹದಿನಾರು ಹಸುಗಳು—ವಸ್ತ್ರಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಕಂಚಿನ ದೋಹನಪಾತ್ರಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ—ಮತ್ತು ನಾಲ್ಕು ಕುಂಭಗಳು, ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಚಿನ್ನಸಹಿತ ದಕ್ಷಿಣೆಯನ್ನೂ ನೀಡಬೇಕು।
Not specified in the provided excerpt (context needed from surrounding verses of Bhūmi-khaṇḍa 40).
Concept: Material wealth becomes spiritually transformative when converted into dharmic gifts—especially go-dāna and dakṣiṇā—performed with completeness and respect.
Application: Give in a structured way: quantity with quality (support + tools + honorarium). In modern terms: donate resources plus what enables sustained use (maintenance, training, stipend).
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ceremonial gifting procession lines up sixteen well-kept cows, each draped with clean cloth and marked with auspicious tilaka, while bronze milking vessels gleam beside them. Four large kumbhas filled with water and topped with mango leaves and coconuts stand near a tray of gold for dakṣiṇā, as priests chant blessings over the offerings.","primary_figures":["donor (yajamāna)","brāhmaṇa priests","cows as sacred recipients of care"],"setting":"Open mandapa near a ritual fire altar, with rows of cows, bronze vessels, and decorated water pots.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["sunlit gold","cowhide brown","white cotton","bronze sheen","mango-leaf green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a grand go-dāna tableau with sixteen cows in a row, each with ornate cloth and bells; bronze milking vessels rendered with metallic highlights; four kumbhas decorated with mango leaves and coconuts; a gold dakṣiṇā plate shining with gold leaf; rich maroon background, emerald borders, jewel-like detailing, symmetrical temple-arch framing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: pastoral elegance—cows with delicate ornamentation, soft hills and trees behind a mandapa; bronze vessels painted with subtle reflections; four kumbhas with fine linework; donor and brāhmaṇa figures with refined faces and gentle gestures; cool, airy palette and lyrical naturalism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines and flat yet vibrant pigments; stylized cows with patterned cloth, prominent kumbhas with mango leaves; priests in rhythmic poses; warm red and yellow ground with green accents, temple-wall border motifs, ceremonial clarity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: cows arranged in a mandala-like procession around decorated kumbhas; lotus and floral borders, deep indigo field with gold highlights; peacocks perched near the kumbhas; intricate textile patterns on cow cloths, celebratory devotional composition."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"celebratory","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["cow bells","Vedic chanting","conch shell","drum (mridanga) soft","crowd murmur subdued"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ṣoḍaśaiva = ṣoḍaśa + eva; kuṃbhayuktāśca = kuṃbha-yuktāḥ + ca; sakāṃcanām = sa-kāṃcanām.
FAQs
It describes a prescribed dāna involving sixteen cows given with cloth and bronze milking implements, plus four water-pots and a priestly honorarium (dakṣiṇā) that includes gold.
The verse frames dāna as complete and usable: the primary gift (cows) is supplemented with supportive items (cloth, vessels, pots) so the recipient can practically maintain and benefit from the gift.
It stresses generosity and proper honoring of ritual participants—dāna is not merely symbolic but should be offered with sincerity, adequacy, and respect (including suitable dakṣiṇā).