Shloka 77
The Greatness of Puṣkara: Tripuṣkara Pilgrimage, Sacred Geography, and the Doctrine of Self-Restraint
ततो दधीचिः परमप्रतीतः सुरोत्तमांस्तानिदमित्युवाच । करोमि यद्वो हितमद्य देवाः स्वं वापि देहं त्वहमुत्सृजामि
tato dadhīciḥ paramapratītaḥ surottamāṃstānidamityuvāca | karomi yadvo hitamadya devāḥ svaṃ vāpi dehaṃ tvahamutsṛjāmi
അപ്പോൾ പരമപ്രസിദ്ധനായ ദധീചി ആ ദേവോത്തമന്മാരോട് ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞു— “ഹേ ദേവന്മാരേ, ഇന്ന് നിങ്ങളുടെ ഹിതത്തിനായി യുക്തമായതു ഞാൻ ചെയ്യും; ആവശ്യമെങ്കിൽ എന്റെ ദേഹവും ഞാൻ ത്യജിക്കും।”
Dadhīci
Concept: Paramārtha-dāna: the highest charity is to give oneself for the welfare of others when guided by dharma.
Application: Practice sacrificial service in proportion to capacity—time, comfort, resources—without resentment; let ‘loka-hita’ guide choices over personal gain.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: forest
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Sage Dadhīci stands or sits upright, calm yet blazing with inner fire, addressing the assembled devas with unwavering eyes. The devas’ faces shift from urgency to stunned reverence as he declares he will relinquish even his body—an act of compassion framed like a silent yajña.","primary_figures":["Sage Dadhīci","Indra (Vāsava)","Devas (group)"],"setting":"Hermitage clearing with sacrificial altar, kusa grass, sacred trees; a subtle aura like a sun-disc behind Dadhīci","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["sunset amber","ash gray","saffron","deep teal","ivory"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Dadhīci in ascetic attire with a large gold-leaf halo, right hand raised in assurance (abhaya/vara-like gesture), devas kneeling with ornate crowns, rich crimson and green garments, gold embellishments emphasizing the solemn vow, altar and forest rendered with decorative motifs.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate moment of declaration—Dadhīci serene, devas attentive, delicate shading on faces showing compassion and resolve, soft forest greens and cool blues, minimal gold accents, lyrical composition with a small yajña fire.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Dadhīci centered with bold outline and radiant prabhā, devas in rhythmic rows, strong reds/yellows/greens, stylized flames and foliage, temple-wall gravitas emphasizing vow and dharma.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central rṣi with sun-like aura, devas arranged in devotional symmetry, ornate floral borders and lotus motifs, deep indigo background with gold highlights, peacocks at the edges, a small altar-fire stylized like a mandala."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["low tanpura drone","single bell strikes","fire crackle","deep silence after the vow","distant conch (very soft)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सुरोत्तमांस्तानिदमित्युवाच = सुरोत्तमान् तान् इदम् इति उवाच; हितमद्य = हितम् अद्य; वापि = वा अपि; त्वहमुत्सृजामि = तु अहम् उत्सृजामि
FAQs
It highlights Dadhīci’s resolve to act for the welfare of the Devas, even to the extent of renouncing his own body—an ideal of selfless sacrifice (tyāga) in service of dharma.
The speaker is the sage Dadhīci, addressing the “foremost of the gods” (the Devas).
The verse teaches prioritizing the common good over personal attachment, presenting voluntary self-offering as a pinnacle of righteous action when done for a just cause.