Varaha Purana 165.41 — Adhyaya 165, Shloka 41
The Glory of Mathurā: The Account of Piṇḍa-Offering at the Catuḥsāmudrika Well
मित्रेण च पुनः प्रोक्तं यथाशक्त्या प्रदीयताम् ॥ तदा मित्रमसङ्गेन दत्तो वै स्वर्णमाषकः
mitreṇa ca punaḥ proktaṃ yathāśaktyā pradīyatām || tadā mitram asaṅgena datto vai svarṇamāṣakaḥ
ಮಿತ್ರನು ಮತ್ತೆ ಹೇಳಿದನು—“ಯಥಾಶಕ್ತಿಯಂತೆ ದಾನವನ್ನು ನೀಡಲಿ.” ಆಗ ಆ ಮಿತ್ರನು ಆಸಕ್ತಿರಹಿತನಾಗಿ ನಿಜವಾಗಿ ಒಂದು ಸ್ವರ್ಣಮಾಷಕ (ಚಿಕ್ಕ ಬಂಗಾರದ ನಾಣ್ಯ) ನೀಡಿದನು.
Unspecified narrator (default dialogue frame: Varāha)
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"How should charity be given—what is the proper measure and inner attitude (yathāśakti, asakti-rahita)?"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"dana","instruction_summary":"Give according to one’s capacity (yathāśakti) and without attachment (asaṅga), even if the gift is small (e.g., a māṣaka).","karmic_consequence":"Such detached giving accrues merit disproportionate to its material size; attachmentless dāna supports auspicious post-mortem destiny."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"Ethics of action (karma-yoga tone)","core_concept":"The inner disposition (non-attachment) sanctifies action; adequacy is measured by capacity, not quantity.","practical_application":"Practice regular giving within means; consciously relinquish pride, expectation, and possessiveness at the moment of donation."}
Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Non-attachment","Charitable Practice"]
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: karuṇa
Type: None
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 165 (preta-narrative on dāna/śrāddha omissions leading to preta-state)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A modest donor-friend offers a tiny gold māṣaka with a calm, unattached demeanor, illustrating ‘give as you can’.","item_prompts":["small gold coin (māṣaka)","open palm giving gesture","simple clothing (non-royal)","serene face (asaṅga)","listener receiving counsel"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: warm earthy palette, stylized figures; a calm giver extending a small gold coin, minimal background, emphasis on hand-gesture and composed eyes.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: central figure offering a tiny gold coin; ornate but restrained halo/border; gold-leaf accents highlighting the coin and hand ornaments lightly.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: delicate linework; intimate indoor setting; subtle shading on the coin and hands; quiet devotional-ethical mood.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: small courtly vignette; gentle hills or plain backdrop; emphasis on narrative gesture—coin exchange and attentive listener."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"Didactic, reflective","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"clear, instructive, restrained"}
FAQs
It preserves a practical ethic of proportional giving (yathāśakti) and references monetary terminology (māṣaka), useful for cultural-economic contextualization.
No location is named here; the narrative context later introduces Mathurā.
Give within one’s means, and give without attachment—an ethic framed as socially actionable rather than purely ascetic.
Ask anything about this verse
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