Shloka 21
Teaching on Karma-yoga
Discipline of Action as Worship
अग्निकार्यं ततः कुर्यात्सायंप्रातः प्रसन्नधीः । स्नात्वा संतर्पयेद्देवानृषीन्पितृगणांस्तथा
agnikāryaṃ tataḥ kuryātsāyaṃprātaḥ prasannadhīḥ | snātvā saṃtarpayeddevānṛṣīnpitṛgaṇāṃstathā
അതിനുശേഷം പ്രസന്നബുദ്ധിയോടെ സായങ്കാലത്തും പ്രഭാതത്തും അഗ്നികാര്യങ്ങൾ നിർവഹിക്കണം. സ്നാനം ചെയ്ത് ദേവന്മാർക്കും ഋഷിമാർക്കും പിതൃഗണങ്ങൾക്കും തർപ്പണം നൽകി തൃപ്തിപ്പെടുത്തണം.
Not explicitly stated in the provided excerpt (contextual narrator/instructor within Svarga-khaṇḍa)
Concept: Daily fire-rite and post-bath offerings maintain reciprocal harmony with devas, sages, and ancestors; cheerfulness and clarity of mind are part of the rite’s efficacy.
Application: Build a daily rhythm of cleanliness, gratitude, and remembrance—honor teachers/lineage and departed family through prayers, charity, or simple water-offerings.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: temple
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a clean courtyard after bathing, a householder approaches a glowing sacred fire, offering ghee with a ladle as thin smoke rises in spirals. Nearby, he pours water in a controlled stream for tarpaṇa, while faint, benevolent silhouettes of devas, ṛṣis, and pitṛs appear in the smoke and light, receiving the offerings.","primary_figures":["dvija householder","Agni (personified subtly in flame)","devas (subtle silhouettes)","ṛṣis (subtle silhouettes)","pitṛgaṇas (subtle silhouettes)"],"setting":"domestic yajña-śālā or āśrama courtyard with vedi, water pot, ladle, kusa mats","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["flame amber","smoke silver","ghee gold","clay red","night blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central agni-vedi with gold leaf flames, householder offering ghee, ornate brass vessels with gem-like highlights, devas/ṛṣis/pitṛs suggested in luminous aureoles within smoke, rich reds and greens, symmetrical altar composition with decorative borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate courtyard ritual, delicate smoke curls, soft warm firelight on calm faces, subtle translucent figures in the background, fine detailing of ladle, water stream, and kusa mats, gentle earth-toned palette.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, stylized fire as rhythmic red-yellow tongues, householder in iconic posture, devas/ṛṣis/pitṛs as patterned registers above the altar, temple-wall aesthetic with vegetal borders and strong primary pigments.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ornate altar scene framed by floral borders, stylized flames and water motifs, peacocks and lotuses in corners, deep blue background with gold highlights, celestial recipients depicted as decorative medallions above the fire."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["crackling fire","ladle clink","soft mantra hum","water pouring","temple bell"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुर्यात्सायंप्रातः = कुर्यात् + सायंप्रातः; संतर्पयेद्देवानृषीन् = संतर्पयेत् + देवान् + ऋषीन् (त् + द → द्द; न् + ऋ → नृषि-).
FAQs
It prescribes agni-kārya (fire-rite) performed twice daily—morning and evening—and, after bathing, tarpana offerings to devas (gods), ṛṣis (sages), and pitṛs (ancestors).
It implies that ritual action (karma) should be accompanied by inner clarity and composure; the mental disposition is treated as part of the discipline of dharma, not merely the external act.
It teaches gratitude and responsibility across one’s spiritual ecosystem—honoring divine forces, the lineage of knowledge (ṛṣis), and familial lineage (pitṛs)—as a balanced model of dharmic life.