Shloka 25

Prahlada's Instructions to Bali — Prahlada’s Instructions to Bali on Vishnu Worship, Monthly Gifts, and Building Hari’s Temple

Devanagari script

चैत्रे चित्राणि वस्त्राणि शयनान्यासनानि च विष्णोः प्रीत्यर्थमेतानि देयानि ब्राह्मणेष्वथ

Transliteration

caitre citrāṇi vastrāṇi śayanānyāsanāni ca viṣṇoḥ prītyarthametāni deyāni brāhmaṇeṣvatha

Translation

ചൈത്ര മാസത്തിൽ വിഷ്ണുവിന്റെ പ്രീതിക്കായി വർണ്ണവസ്ത്രങ്ങൾ, ശയ്യകൾ, ആസനങ്ങൾ എന്നിവ ബ്രാഹ്മണർക്കു ദാനം ചെയ്യണം।

Speakers

• Unspecified narrator/teacher voice continuing the month-wise dāna injunctions

Primary Deities

• Vishnu

Key Themes

• Dāna (charity)
• Support of learned recipients (brāhmaṇa-dāna)
• Seasonal/ritual calendar
• Devotional intention (Viṣṇu-prīti)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "shringara", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

Why are beds and seats prescribed as gifts in Caitra?

Caitra is associated with renewal and household reordering at the onset of spring. Donating śayana and āsana symbolizes establishing comfort and stability for dharmic living, and in Purāṇic logic the donor’s merit is consecrated by dedicating the act to Viṣṇu’s prīti.

Is the instruction sectarian—only for Vaiṣṇavas?

The verse is explicitly Vaiṣṇava in intention (Viṣṇu-prīti), yet the mechanism—dāna to qualified recipients—is broadly dharmaśāstric and commonly shared across Purāṇic traditions. The distinctive feature is the stated devotional dedication to Viṣṇu.

Does ‘citrāṇi vastrāṇi’ imply ritual clothing or ordinary garments?

The term ‘citra’ primarily indicates bright/ornamented/variegated cloth. It can include festive or high-quality garments suitable for honoring recipients; the verse does not restrict it to a specific ritual uniform.