Shloka 20
Kālin̄dī’s Austerity; True Tapas and Prāyaścitta; Kṛṣṇa’s Grace and Marriage
मित्रादीनां यत्कृतं द्रव्यजातं वृथा गतं मलरूपं च जातम् / सद्वैष्णवानां यत्कृतं द्रव्यजातं हरिप्राप्तेः कारणं स्यात्सदैव
mitrādīnāṃ yatkṛtaṃ dravyajātaṃ vṛthā gataṃ malarūpaṃ ca jātam / sadvaiṣṇavānāṃ yatkṛtaṃ dravyajātaṃ hariprāpteḥ kāraṇaṃ syātsadaiva
മിത്രാദികൾക്കായി ചെലവഴിക്കുന്ന ധനം വ്യർത്ഥമായി പോയി മലരൂപമാകുന്നു; എന്നാൽ സദ്വൈഷ്ണവർക്ക് അർപ്പിക്കുന്ന ധനം എപ്പോഴും ഹരിപ്രാപ്തിക്ക് കാരണമാകുന്നു.
Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinatā-putra)
Concept: Dana directed to true Vaiṣṇavas becomes a cause of attaining Hari; misdirected spending on mere social ties becomes spiritually ‘impure’ and fruitless.
Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: purification of wealth and mind through right offering; satsanga as a conduit to bhakti and grace.
Application: Budget charity and service toward genuine spiritual/ethical communities; evaluate giving by transformative impact rather than social obligation.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: praise of dana, especially to Vishnu-bhaktas and brahmanas, as purifier and merit-giving (general thematic parallel)
FAQs
This verse states that wealth offered to true Vaiṣṇavas becomes a direct cause for Hari-prāpti, unlike worldly spending that yields no lasting spiritual fruit.
In the Preta Kanda’s framework, post-death benefit depends on dharmic merit; here, the text highlights dāna to sādhus/Vaiṣṇavas as spiritually efficacious merit supporting the soul’s higher attainment.
Prioritize purposeful giving—support genuine spiritual practitioners and dharmic causes—rather than treating wealth as mere social expenditure.