Shloka 55
Annadāna and the Obstruction of Viṣṇu-Darśana; Vāmadeva’s Teaching and the Vāsudeva Stotra Prelude
वप्तुकामो भवेत्क्षेत्री ततः क्षेत्रे प्रवापयेत् । तद्वद्भूपप्रसन्नाय विप्राय परिदीयते
vaptukāmo bhavetkṣetrī tataḥ kṣetre pravāpayet | tadvadbhūpaprasannāya viprāya paridīyate
शेतकरी पेरणी करू इच्छित असेल तर प्रथम शेत तयार करून मग त्या शेतात बी पेरावे. तसेच राजास प्रसन्न व अनुकूल अशा विप्राला दान द्यावे।
Unspecified (narrative instruction within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa; traditional dialogue context often runs Pulastya → Bhīṣma, but this verse alone does not name the speaker).
Concept: Merit-bearing action requires proper preparation: as sowing follows field-preparation, so dāna should be offered to a receptive, well-disposed brāhmaṇa—right context and right recipient amplify spiritual fruit.
Application: Before giving—clarify intention, choose trustworthy recipients/causes, and offer respectfully; cultivate relationships with teachers and communities so giving becomes seva rather than transaction.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A farmer carefully ploughs and levels a field, sprinkling water and removing stones before sowing golden seeds. In a parallel vignette, a king approaches a calm brāhmaṇa with folded hands, offering a gift on a clean cloth—suggesting that inner preparation and respectful approach make charity fruitful.","primary_figures":["a farmer (kṣetrī)","a king (dāna-kartā)","a brāhmaṇa (pātra)"],"setting":"Split-scene: agrarian field with plough and oxen; nearby a shaded hermitage courtyard with kusa grass seat, water pot, and a small Viṣṇu emblem on a wooden post.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["warm ochre","harvest gold","copper brown","sage green","ivory white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: dual-panel composition—left, farmer ploughing a stylized field; right, king offering dāna to a brāhmaṇa seated on a decorated āsana; gold leaf on the gift cloth and ornaments, rich reds/greens in attire, embossed halo-like motifs around the act of dāna.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: gentle rural scene with fine lines—plough furrows like rhythmic patterns; the hermitage courtyard rendered with cool shadows, refined faces, subtle gestures of humility; distant hills and a small shrine detail.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines—farmer and oxen in dynamic curve, brāhmaṇa seated with calm gaze; natural pigments, temple-wall aesthetic, ritual vessels and kusa grass clearly stylized.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ornate border of vines and lotuses; central motif of a field as a lotus-mandala where seeds are golden dots; to the side, the dāna scene with decorative textiles, peacocks and cows as auspicious witnesses, deep blue background with gold detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["plough creak","soft wind","distant temple bell","quiet hermitage ambience"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भवेत्क्षेत्री = भवेत् + क्षेत्री; तद्वद्भूपप्रसन्नाय = तद्वत् + भूपप्रसन्नाय
FAQs
It uses the farming metaphor to teach discernment in giving: just as sowing requires a prepared field, charity should be placed where it is most fitting—here, to a brāhmaṇa who is favorably disposed and thus an appropriate recipient in the stated royal-ethical context.
The comparison emphasizes intentionality and suitability: results arise when an action is done in the right place and manner—seed in a prepared field, and gifts to a worthy recipient.
It advises donors to give thoughtfully rather than indiscriminately, considering the recipient’s character and relational context so that the gift supports dharma and yields beneficial outcomes.