Shloka 56
The Procedure for the Consecration of a Pond
स्वल्पेष्वेकाग्निवत्कार्यो वित्तशाठ्यविवर्जितैः । प्रावृट्काले स्थितं तोयमग्निष्टोमसमं स्मृतम्
svalpeṣvekāgnivatkāryo vittaśāṭhyavivarjitaiḥ | prāvṛṭkāle sthitaṃ toyamagniṣṭomasamaṃ smṛtam
ധനകാര്യത്തിൽ കപടം ഒഴിവാക്കിയവർ, അല്പസാധനങ്ങളിലുമെങ്കിലും ഏകാഗ്നിയെപ്പോലെ ഈ കർമ്മം അനുഷ്ഠിക്കണം. മഴക്കാലത്ത് സംഭരിച്ച ജലം അഗ്നിഷ്ടോമയാഗസമമായ പുണ്യഫലദായകമെന്ന് സ്മരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.
Not specified in the provided excerpt (context needed from Adhyaya 27 frame-dialogue).
Concept: Perform rites honestly even with small means; integrity (absence of wealth-deceit) is essential. Rainy-season stored water carries extraordinary merit, equated to a major soma sacrifice.
Application: Avoid financial dishonesty in religious giving; keep a simple, consistent daily practice; conserve and honor rainwater (harvesting/storage) as both ecological and sacred duty.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A humble home altar with a single steady flame: a devotee of modest means pours carefully stored monsoon rainwater into a shining pot, offering it with clean hands and a clear conscience. In the background, dark rainclouds recede, and the stored water glows as if containing the essence of a grand sacrifice—quietly equaling Agniṣṭoma.","primary_figures":["humble devotee/householder","small household sacred fire (ekāgni)","optional brāhmaṇa guide in background"],"setting":"Simple courtyard shrine with a small fire altar, rainwater storage vessel (earthen or copper), monsoon-washed surroundings, a small tulsi platform implied but not central.","lighting_mood":"moonlit","color_palette":["monsoon indigo","copper bronze","smoke gray","pearl white","saffron flame"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a modest devotee tending a single sacred fire and offering stored monsoon rainwater in a copper vessel, gold leaf aura around the water and flame to signify Agniṣṭoma-equivalent merit, rich maroons and greens, ornate border, detailed ritual implements, serene devotional expression.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate monsoon-afterglow courtyard—devotee with copper pot of stored rainwater near a small fire, delicate raindrop sheen on leaves, cool indigo sky, refined gentle faces, subtle symbolism of sacrifice through luminous water reflections.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined devotee and ekāgni, prominent copper pot and stylized rainclouds, natural pigments with strong reds/yellows/greens and deep blue background, temple-wall aesthetic, decorative borders emphasizing purity and steadiness.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central ritual of offering rainwater framed by lotus and cloud motifs, deep blue ground with gold highlights, stylized flame and shimmering water, intricate floral borders, peacocks and monsoon vines at edges, devotional symmetry and ornate textile detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["soft rain in distance","crackling single fire","gentle conch","silence","water poured into vessel"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्वल्पेषु + एकाग्निवत्कार्यः → स्वल्पेष्वेकाग्निवत्कार्यो; तोयम् + अग्निष्टोमसमम् → तोयमग्निष्टोमसमम्.
FAQs
The verse states that water stored/kept during the rainy season (prāvṛṭkāle sthitaṃ toyam) is remembered as equal in merit to the Agniṣṭoma sacrifice.
It praises performing one’s duties without vitta-śāṭhya—dishonesty or deceit in matters of wealth—implying that purity of means is essential for religious merit.
It teaches that even with small means (svalpeṣu), one should still carry out the prescribed practice—likened to maintaining the single sacred fire—highlighting sincerity and consistency over lavish expenditure.