Shloka 54

The Episode of Vena: Purification, the ‘Vāsudevābhidhā’ Hymn, and the Dharma of Charity

Times, Tīrthas, Worthy Recipients

Devanagari script

अन्नं पयः फलं पुष्पं वस्त्रं तांबूलभूषणम् । हेमरत्नादिकं चैव तस्य पुण्यमनंतकम्

Transliteration

annaṃ payaḥ phalaṃ puṣpaṃ vastraṃ tāṃbūlabhūṣaṇam | hemaratnādikaṃ caiva tasya puṇyamanaṃtakam

Translation

അന്നം, പാൽ, ഫലം, പുഷ്പം, വസ്ത്രം, താംബൂലം, ആഭരണങ്ങൾ, കൂടാതെ സ്വർണം-രത്നാദികൾ ദാനം ചെയ്താൽ അവന്റെ പുണ്യം അനന്തമാകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object—thing given)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• पयः: milk
• पयः: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• फलम्: fruit
• फलम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• पुष्पम्: flower
• पुष्पम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• वस्त्रम्: cloth/garment
• वस्त्रम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• ताम्बूल-भूषणम्: betel and ornaments
• ताम्बूल-भूषणम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्बूल (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (ताम्बूलं च भूषणं च) समाहारार्थे

• हेम-रत्न-आदिकम्: gold, jewels, and the like
• हेम-रत्न-आदिकम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेम (प्रातिपदिक) + रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘आदि’ अन्त-तत्पुरुष (gold, jewels, etc.)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction), अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• तस्य: of him/that
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पुण्यम्: merit
• पुण्यम्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• अनन्तकम्: endless
• अनन्तकम्: विशेषण (Adjectival to ‘पुण्यम्’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Not specified in the provided excerpt (context needed to confirm the dialogue frame, commonly Pulastya → Bhīṣma in Bhūmi-khaṇḍa sections).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: तांबूलभूषणम् = ताम्बूल + भूषणम् (द्वन्द्व, समाहार); हेमरत्नादिकं = हेम + रत्न + आदिकम्; चैव = च + एव; पुण्यमनंतकम् = पुण्यम् + अनन्तकम्.

FAQs

What kinds of gifts or offerings are praised in this verse?

The verse lists common and valuable offerings: food, milk, fruit, flowers, clothing, betel (tāmbūla), ornaments, as well as gold and gems—indicating both everyday charity and higher-value gifts.

What does “puṇyam anantakam” mean here?

It means “endless” or “inexhaustible” merit—i.e., the spiritual benefit of such giving is described as not running out, emphasizing the lasting religious value of dāna.

What ethical lesson does this verse teach?

It promotes generosity and support of others’ needs—ranging from nourishment and clothing to respectful hospitality and adornment—presenting charitable giving as a key source of enduring merit.