Shloka 69
Right Conduct, Offenses Against Brāhmaṇas, Truthfulness, and the Greatness of the Cow
Go-Māhātmya
नवधान्यानि शस्तानि विप्रेभ्यः संप्रदापयेत् । न चेत्प्राणिवधे ह्यत्र क्षीयंते चायुषो ध्रुवं
navadhānyāni śastāni viprebhyaḥ saṃpradāpayet | na cetprāṇivadhe hyatra kṣīyaṃte cāyuṣo dhruvaṃ
ഒൻപതു തരത്തിലുള്ള ധാന്യങ്ങളും യോജ്യമായ അന്നസാമഗ്രികളും ശ്രദ്ധയോടെ ബ്രാഹ്മണർക്കു സമർപ്പിക്കണം; അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ഇവിടെ പ്രാണിഹിംസാദോഷം മൂലം ആയുസ്സ് തീർച്ചയായും ക്ഷയിക്കും.
Unspecified (narratorial/didactic instruction within Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa context)
Concept: Dāna of staple grains to brāhmaṇas is prescribed; neglect leads to karmic depletion of lifespan, linked to hiṃsā in sustenance.
Application: Regularly donate food staples; support those engaged in teaching, worship, and service; treat giving as a conscious antidote to harm embedded in consumption.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A courtyard where a householder presents nine varieties of grains in polished brass vessels to learned brāhmaṇas seated on kusa mats. In the background, a subtle shadow motif suggests the ‘diminishing lifespan’ warning—an hourglass-like lamp flame shortening—contrasted with the bright merit of giving.","primary_figures":["a gṛhastha donor","brāhmaṇas receiving dāna","family members witnessing the rite"],"setting":"village yajña-courtyard with kusa mats, grain jars, and a small fire-altar","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["turmeric yellow","brass gold","rice white","deep maroon","smoke gray"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a richly adorned courtyard dāna scene—householder offering nine grains in gleaming brass bowls to seated brāhmaṇas, gold-leaf detailing on vessels and borders, vermilion and emerald garments, stylized fire-altar with sacred ash, a symbolic lamp-flame/hourglass motif indicating lifespan, traditional South Indian ornamentation and symmetry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate village courtyard with delicate lines, donor kneeling with grain bowls, brāhmaṇas on kusa mats, soft architectural arches, muted maroons and saffron, a small lamp whose flame subtly shortens in a corner as moral symbolism, refined faces and gentle narrative realism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines showing the act of anna-dāna, stylized grain sheaves and brass vessels, brāhmaṇas with characteristic eye shapes, warm yellow-red-green palette, a symbolic dark-to-light gradient behind the donor to show pāpa-to-puṇya transition.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ornate border of grain and lotus motifs, central devotional act of offering grains as seva, deep blue ground with gold highlights, peacocks at the edges, a small conch/lotus emblem suggesting Viṣṇu’s sanction of dāna, intricate textile patterns."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["mantra murmurs","clinking vessels","soft bell","crackling fire"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: न चेत्प्राणिवधे = न + चेत् + प्राणिवधे; चायुषो = च + आयुषः
FAQs
It recommends giving the nine kinds of grains (navadhānya) and appropriate provisions as dāna to Brāhmaṇas, emphasizing respectful and proper offering.
It warns that if one fails in this duty, one may fall into acts that harm living beings (prāṇivadha), and such harm is said to surely reduce one’s lifespan.
By pairing charity (offering grains) with a caution against prāṇivadha, the verse frames dharmic giving as aligned with non-violence and life-preserving conduct.