Dharma-ākhyāna (Discourse on Dharma): Worthy Charity, Fruitless Gifts, and the Merit of Building Ponds
मन्त्र्यादिभिः परिवृतो बभ्राम मध्यभास्करम् । दैवादाखेटशून्यस्य ह्यतिश्रान्तस्य तत्र वै ॥ ६८ ॥
mantryādibhiḥ parivṛto babhrāma madhyabhāskaram | daivādākheṭaśūnyasya hyatiśrāntasya tatra vai || 68 ||
മന്ത്രിമാരും അനുചരന്മാരും ചുറ്റിനിന്നപ്പോൾ ആ രാജാവ് മധ്യാഹ്നസൂര്യൻ വരെയും സഞ്ചരിച്ചു. ദൈവവശാൽ വേട്ടയുടെ വിനോദം ലഭിക്കാതെ അവിടെ അത്യന്തം ക്ഷീണിച്ചു।
Suta (narrator) recounting the episode within the Purana’s narrative frame
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
It introduces the motif of daiva (destiny) curtailing worldly diversions, creating exhaustion and a pause that often becomes the doorway to reflection, detachment, and later dharmic instruction in Purana narratives.
Indirectly: by showing how ordinary pleasures (like hunting as royal sport) can be removed by fate, the mind becomes ready to seek higher refuge—typically culminating in hearing dharma and turning toward Vishnu-bhakti in subsequent teachings.
The verse uses time-marking through the sun’s position (midday), reflecting the practical importance of jyotiṣa-style temporal awareness for daily activity and ritual scheduling, even within narrative passages.