Shloka 8
Fruits of Occasional (Festival-Specific) Charity — The Vena Episode
ब्राह्मणाय सुपुण्याय दानं दद्यात्प्रयत्नतः । महादानानि यो दद्यात्तीर्थे पर्वणि पात्रवित्
brāhmaṇāya supuṇyāya dānaṃ dadyātprayatnataḥ | mahādānāni yo dadyāttīrthe parvaṇi pātravit
അത്യന്തം പുണ്യശീലനായ ബ്രാഹ്മണനു പരിശ്രമത്തോടെ ദാനം നൽകണം. പാത്രയോഗ്യത അറിഞ്ഞ് തീർത്ഥത്തിലും പർവ്വദിനങ്ങളിലും മഹാദാനങ്ങൾ ചെയ്യുന്നവൻ മഹാപുണ്യം പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു.
Unspecified (narratorial/instructional voice within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa context)
Concept: Great gifts (mahā-dāna) offered with discernment (pātra-vit) at tīrthas and on parvan days yield exceptional merit; charity should be intentional and recipient-aware.
Application: When visiting pilgrimage sites or on holy days, give responsibly: support genuine sādhus, Vedic learning, feeding programs, medical aid; avoid performative giving; keep a portion for regular, steady charity too.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At a river-ford tīrtha, pilgrims bathe at stone ghāṭs while a learned brāhmaṇa sits beneath a canopy, receiving carefully chosen gifts from a devoted donor. The donor performs saṅkalpa with a water offering, and the scene highlights discernment—pātra-viveka—amid the festive parvan crowd.","primary_figures":["devotee donor","virtuous brāhmaṇa (supūṇya)","pilgrims","priests"],"setting":"River ghāṭ tīrtha with steps, banyan tree, donation canopy, and small shrine with Viṣṇu symbols","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["river jade","stone gray","saffron","lotus pink","gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: sacred river-ghāṭ tīrtha at dawn, donor offering mahā-dāna to a supūṇya brāhmaṇa under a canopy, gold leaf on shrine and halos, rich reds/greens, ornate kalasha and copper vessels, stylized waves, symmetrical composition with Viṣṇu chakra-conch motifs","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: serene tīrtha scene with delicate ghāṭ steps, pilgrims bathing, donor giving gifts with saṅkalpa, refined brāhmaṇa with manuscript, soft dawn haze over water, cool greens and blues with warm saffron accents, lyrical naturalism","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined river-ghāṭ, stylized figures in profile, donor and brāhmaṇa central, temple shrine with conch/chakra motifs, natural pigments (yellow/red/green), decorative borders with lotus and wave patterns","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: tīrtha-dāna tableau framed by lotus and floral borders, deep blue water rendered as patterned field with gold highlights, pilgrims and donor arranged symmetrically, small Viṣṇu shrine at center-top, intricate textile motifs and auspicious symbols"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["flowing water","temple bells","soft chanting","birds at dawn","conch shell (distant)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दद्यात्प्रयत्नतः = दद्यात् + प्रयत्नतः; दद्यात्तीर्थे = दद्यात् + तीर्थे
FAQs
It advises giving charity diligently to a virtuous brāhmaṇa, and highlights that giving major gifts at tīrthas and on parvan (festival) days is especially meritorious when the donor understands the recipient’s worthiness.
Pātravit means “one who knows the proper recipient”—a donor who can discern who is fit (pātra) to receive charity, ensuring the gift is ethically and spiritually well-directed.
It links generosity with discernment: charity should be given with effort and sincerity, but also with careful attention to the recipient’s virtue and suitability, especially during sacred times and at sacred places.