Shloka 23
Praise of Digging Wells and Building Water-Reservoirs
The Merit of Water-Works
कोट्येकमुपदेष्टुश्च कर्तुरक्षयमेव च । पुरा धनिसुतेनैव कृतः ख्यातो जलाशयः
koṭyekamupadeṣṭuśca karturakṣayameva ca | purā dhanisutenaiva kṛtaḥ khyāto jalāśayaḥ
ഉപദേശകന്റെ ഒരൊറ്റ ഉപദേശവും (പുണ്യത്തില്) ഒരു കോടി ഫലത്തിന് തുല്യം; കര്ത്താവിന് ഫലം സത്യമായും അക്ഷയം. പുരാതനകാലത്ത് ധനിയുടെ പുത്രന് ഒരു പ്രസിദ്ധ ജലാശയം നിര്മ്മിച്ചു.
Unspecified (narratorial voice within Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa context)
Concept: Upadeśa (guiding others to dharma) multiplies merit immensely, and loka-hita acts like building a reservoir yield akṣaya-phala (inexhaustible fruit).
Application: Invest time or resources into durable community benefit (water, food, education); also ‘teach the teaching’—help someone else perform one dharmic act.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"On a sunlit plain, Dhani’s son oversees the carving of a vast stone-lined reservoir, workers passing baskets of earth while sages bless the undertaking. A teacher stands nearby instructing villagers in dharma, and above the water’s surface a subtle, luminous ‘akṣaya’ aura forms like a halo, hinting at inexhaustible merit.","primary_figures":["Dhani’s son (benefactor)","a dharma-teacher (upadeṣṭā)","villagers/workers","blessing rishis"],"setting":"A newly built reservoir with steps (ghāṭa), stone embankments, and a small shrine niche awaiting consecration.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["ochre","turquoise","sandstone beige","leaf green","sun-gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: benefactor and rishis near a stepped reservoir, gold leaf used for the ‘akṣaya’ aura and sacred water highlights, rich reds/greens in garments, ornate borders, traditional iconographic posture of blessing and instruction, jewel-like detailing on tools and vessels.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical landscape with a stepped tank, delicate figures in soft earth tones, a teacher gesturing while villagers listen, fine brushwork on rippling water, gentle dawn sky, refined faces and calm narrative clarity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines of the reservoir steps and figures, flat pigments with strong reds/yellows/greens, a central blessing rishi, stylized water patterns, temple-wall composition emphasizing dharma and public welfare.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: reservoir rendered as a lotus-like water mandala, floral borders and repeating motifs of water pots, villagers arranged symmetrically, deep blue-green water with gold accents, devotional textile richness even in a civic-dharma scene."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["flowing water","stone chisels (softly implied)","conch shell at consecration","birds near water","temple bells"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: koṭyekam = koṭi + ekam; upadeṣṭuśca = upadeṣṭuḥ + ca; karturakṣayam = kartuḥ + akṣayam; dhanisutenaiva = dhani-sutena + eva; (kṛtaḥ khyātaḥ jalāśayaḥ) predicates in agreement with jalāśayaḥ.
FAQs
It points to a specific, well-known water-reservoir (jalāśaya) built in ancient times, implying that constructed water-bodies could become renowned sacred or commemorated sites within the Purāṇic landscape.
Indirectly: it highlights enduring spiritual benefit (akṣaya-phala) through acts that support dharma and the welfare of others—service and selfless giving are treated as spiritually potent, harmonizing with bhakti’s ethic of devotion expressed through compassionate action.
Teaching right conduct and performing public-benefit works (like building a water reservoir) generate lasting, “inexhaustible” merit; the verse praises both guidance (upadeśa) and tangible service to society.