Shloka 93
Vrata–Dāna Compendium at Puṣkara: Puṣpavāhana’s Account and the Ṣaṣṭhī-vrata Purification Rite
शुक्तिगन्धाक्षतान्दद्याद्विप्राय सितवाससी । वारुणं पदमाप्नोति दृढव्रतमिदं स्मृतम्
śuktigandhākṣatāndadyādviprāya sitavāsasī | vāruṇaṃ padamāpnoti dṛḍhavratamidaṃ smṛtam
വെള്ള വസ്ത്രം ധരിച്ച സ്ത്രീ സുഗന്ധമുള്ള അക്ഷതം (അരി കണങ്ങൾ) ബ്രാഹ്മണനു അർപ്പിക്കണം; അതിനാൽ അവൾ വരുണലോകം പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു। ഇത് ‘ദൃഢവ്രതം’ എന്നു സ്മരിക്കുന്നു।
Unspecified (narrative injunction within Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa)
Concept: Purity of presentation (white garments) and respectful gifting to a brāhmaṇa, even in a small form (akṣata), becomes a ‘firm vow’ yielding a divine realm.
Application: Practice respectful giving: offer simple, clean gifts with sincerity; keep one’s conduct and appearance aligned with the intention (cleanliness, humility, steadiness).
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A woman in spotless white garments stands before a seated brāhmaṇa, offering a small leaf-bowl of fragrant akṣata—rice grains perfumed with subtle sandal and flowers. Behind them, a symbolic oceanic horizon and a faint celestial gateway suggest Varuṇa’s watery realm, with a noose emblem and calm, law-giving majesty.","primary_figures":["woman vrata-observer","brāhmaṇa","Varuṇa (symbolic presence/emblem)"],"setting":"Temple courtyard or clean household threshold with rangoli, offering tray, and a distant suggestion of water (pond or ocean) to echo Varuṇa.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["pure white","aqua blue","sandalwood tan","marigold yellow","silver"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: the woman in white offering fragrant akṣata to a brāhmaṇa under a temple arch; upper corner shows Varuṇa enthroned on a makara with pāśa (noose); lavish gold leaf, jewel-like ornamentation, rich turquoise and vermilion accents, ornate borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: refined courtyard scene with delicate textiles and gentle gestures; a pale blue water-body in the background, Varuṇa hinted as a soft cloud-vision; cool palette, fine brushwork, lyrical calm and elegant posture.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: iconic figures with bold outlines; the offering gesture emphasized, akṣata rendered as patterned dots; Varuṇa motif with makara and pāśa in a decorative panel; warm reds/yellows with contrasting blues.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symmetrical composition with lotus and wave borders; central act of offering akṣata, side panels with makara motifs and floral garlands; deep blue ground, gold highlights, intricate textile-like patterning."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft bell","mantra murmur","rice grains pouring","distant water waves","conch (faint)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शुक्तिगन्धाक्षतान्+दद्यात् → शुक्तिगन्धाक्षतान्दद्याद्; दद्यात्+विप्राय → दद्याद्विप्राय; पदम्+आप्नोति → पदमाप्नोति; दृढव्रतम्+इदम् → दृढव्रतमिदम्
FAQs
It prescribes a dāna (gift) of fragrant, unbroken rice-grains (akṣata) to a brāhmaṇa, performed by a woman wearing white garments, framed as a firm observance (dṛḍha-vrata).
The verse states that the practitioner attains the vāruṇaṃ padam—Varuṇa’s abode/realm—indicating a merit-based heavenly attainment linked with Varuṇa.
It highlights the Purāṇic ethic that simple acts of purity and generosity—especially respectful giving to a brāhmaṇa—are treated as potent religious disciplines with defined spiritual outcomes.