Shloka 23
Umā–Maheśvara-saṃvāda: Varṇa-bhraṃśa, Ācāra (Vṛtta), and Karmic Ascent/Decline
ताम्रपात्रेण दातव्यमन्यथाल्पफलं भवेत् | गुहामेतत् समुद्दिष्टं यथा तुष्यन्ति देवता:
tāmrapātreṇa dātavyam anyathā alpaphalaṃ bhavet | guhā etat samuddiṣṭaṃ yathā tuṣyanti devatāḥ ||
Balarāma berkata: “Hendaklah persembahan dibuat dengan bejana tembaga; jika tidak, pahala yang terhasil menjadi sedikit. Ini diajarkan sebagai petunjuk yang dijaga, hampir seperti rahsia—dengan berbuat demikian, para dewa berkenan.”
बलदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the manner and ritual propriety of giving matters: offerings made in a copper vessel are said to yield fuller merit, while neglecting this detail diminishes the spiritual result; the aim is to please the gods through correct observance.
Baladeva (Balarāma) is instructing about ritual conduct connected with offerings and religious giving, presenting a specific rule—use of a copper vessel—as a confidential guideline that leads to divine satisfaction.