Shloka 4
Fruits of Occasional (Festival-Specific) Charity — The Vena Episode
सत्पात्रेभ्यः प्रदत्तानि तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु । गजं रथं प्रदत्ते यो ह्यश्वं चापि नृपोत्तम
satpātrebhyaḥ pradattāni tasya puṇyaphalaṃ śṛṇu | gajaṃ rathaṃ pradatte yo hyaśvaṃ cāpi nṛpottama
സത്പാത്രർക്കു നൽകിയ ദാനങ്ങളുടെ പുണ്യഫലം കേൾക്കുക. ഹേ നൃപോത്തമാ! ആനയും രഥവും കുതിരയും ദാനം ചെയ്യുന്നവന് മഹാപുണ്യം ലഭിക്കുന്നു.
Unspecified in the provided excerpt (context needed from surrounding verses to confirm the dialogue pair).
Concept: Dāna to worthy recipients (satpātra) yields amplified puṇya; the worthiness of the receiver is integral to the fruit.
Application: Give thoughtfully: verify integrity/need, give without humiliation, and match the gift to genuine welfare (education, food, medicine, dharma-support).
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal donor stands before a learned brāhmaṇa assembly, offering symbolic gifts—an elephant with ceremonial caparison, a chariot with banners, and a horse with jeweled harness. The brāhmaṇas raise hands in blessing while attendants hold water-pots for saṅkalpa, emphasizing satpātra-dāna and dharmic kingship.","primary_figures":["dhārmika king (nṛpottama)","virtuous brāhmaṇas (satpātra)","royal attendants"],"setting":"Temple-adjacent charity pavilion (dāna-maṇḍapa) with lotus motifs, palm-leaf manuscripts, and a small yajña-kuṇḍa nearby","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["saffron gold","deep vermilion","ivory white","emerald green","indigo blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: dhārmika king offering an elephant, chariot, and horse to satpātra brāhmaṇas in a dāna-maṇḍapa, gold leaf halos, rich red-green textiles, gem-studded crowns and ornaments, ornate pillars with lotus carvings, sacred water vessel for saṅkalpa, symmetrical South Indian iconographic composition","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a gentle courtly scene of a king gifting a caparisoned elephant, a bannered chariot, and a bridled horse to serene brāhmaṇas, delicate brushwork, refined faces, soft architectural pavilion, distant hills and flowering trees, lyrical naturalism and cool tonal gradients","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined king with layered jewelry presenting dāna to brāhmaṇas, stylized elephant and horse, temple pavilion backdrop, natural pigment palette with dominant reds/yellows/greens, large expressive eyes, rhythmic ornamental borders with lotus and conch motifs","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional dāna scene framed by intricate floral borders and lotus motifs, attendants holding kalasha, stylized animals (elephant/horse) as auspicious symbols, deep blue background with gold highlights, temple courtyard feel, ornate textile patterns and symmetrical layout"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["temple bells","soft conch shell","murmured Vedic blessings","rustle of silk","distant courtyard birds"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ह्यश्वम् = हि + अश्वम् (इ + अ → य); चापि = च + अपि (अ + अ → आ)
FAQs
It teaches that charity (dāna) yields spiritual merit (puṇya) especially when given to worthy recipients (satpātra), and it introduces examples of high-value royal gifts.
A satpātra is a morally and spiritually fit recipient—typically one who is virtuous, disciplined, and deserving—so that the donor’s gift becomes especially fruitful in merit.
They represent major royal assets; the verse uses them to illustrate the greatness of certain forms of dāna and to frame a discussion of their corresponding spiritual results.