Shloka 12
The Glory of Charity: Land-Gifts, Śālagrāma Donation, and Food–Water as Supreme Gifts
भूमिं यो परदत्तां च रक्षति क्ष्मापतिर्द्विज । पुण्यं कोटिगुणं स्याद्वै तस्य दानं जनादपि
bhūmiṃ yo paradattāṃ ca rakṣati kṣmāpatirdvija | puṇyaṃ koṭiguṇaṃ syādvai tasya dānaṃ janādapi
ഹേ ദ്വിജാ! മറ്റൊരാൾ ദാനമായി നൽകിയ ഭൂമിയെ രാജാവ് സംരക്ഷിച്ചാൽ, അവന്റെ പുണ്യം കോടിഗുണമാകും—സ്വയം ദാനം ചെയ്ത പുണ്യത്തേക്കാളും കൂടുതലായി।
Unspecified (contextual narrator/teacher voice within Brahma-khaṇḍa discourse; exact dialogue pair not stated in the provided excerpt)
Concept: Protecting what has been rightfully donated (especially land-grants) yields merit surpassing even the original act of giving, because it preserves dharma across time.
Application: Honor others’ rightful property and charitable endowments; support institutions (temples, schools, feeding houses) by safeguarding their resources rather than merely making one-time gifts.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A righteous king stands at the boundary of a donated field, placing a protective seal on a copper-plate grant while brāhmaṇas chant blessings. Farmers till the land peacefully, and a small Viṣṇu shrine at the edge of the field receives lamp offerings, showing that protection sustains worship across generations.","primary_figures":["dharmic king (kṣmāpati)","brāhmaṇa recipient","village householders","Viṣṇu (as kṣetra-pāla presence, subtle)"],"setting":"rural land-grant boundary with a stone marker, copper-plate inscription, and a small shrine under a banyan tree","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["burnished gold","earth ochre","leaf green","saffron","indigo"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a crowned kṣatriya king beside a copper-plate land grant, brāhmaṇas in white with sacred threads, a small Viṣṇu shrine with deepa; heavy gold leaf halos, rich vermilion and emerald textiles, ornate jewelry, temple-like framing, embossed gold borders and floral motifs.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a serene village landscape with terraced fields, a king respectfully touching a boundary stone, brāhmaṇas reciting; delicate lines, cool greens and blues, soft dawn sky, refined faces, lyrical trees and distant hills, minimal but elegant ornamentation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined figures of the king and brāhmaṇas near a sacred grove shrine, stylized lotus and creeper borders, natural pigment palette with dominant reds/yellows/greens, large expressive eyes, ritual gestures emphasizing protection and dharma.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Viṣṇu as kṣetra-pāla implied in a central shrine, surrounded by lotus borders and cow motifs; the king offers a lamp at the field’s edge, peacocks and floral vines frame the scene, deep blue background with gold highlights and intricate textile patterns."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"authoritative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["temple bells","soft conch shell","distant ploughing sounds","morning birds"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: क्ष्मापतिर्द्विज → क्ष्मापतिः + द्विज; स्याद्वै → स्यात् + वै; जनादपि → जनात् + अपि.
FAQs
It teaches that safeguarding and upholding a legitimate land-grant (paradatta-bhūmi) is itself a highly meritorious act—so meritorious that it is said to exceed even the merit of donating.
Because a donation becomes meaningful only when it is preserved in practice—ensuring the recipient’s security and the continuity of the intended religious or social benefit. The king’s protection prevents injustice and preserves dharma.
That governance is not merely about issuing grants or policies, but about ensuring their faithful enforcement—protecting rightful ownership, preventing confiscation, and maintaining the integrity of charitable and religious endowments.