Shloka 47
The Episode of Vena: Purification, the ‘Vāsudevābhidhā’ Hymn, and the Dharma of Charity
Times, Tīrthas, Worthy Recipients
तीर्थस्यापि च यद्रूपं पात्रस्यापि सुलक्षणम् । दानस्यापि जगन्नाथ विधिं विस्तरतो वद
tīrthasyāpi ca yadrūpaṃ pātrasyāpi sulakṣaṇam | dānasyāpi jagannātha vidhiṃ vistarato vada
Wahai Jagannātha, jelaskanlah dengan terperinci hakikat tīrtha yang suci, ciri-ciri mulia penerima yang layak, serta tatacara dāna menurut dharma.
Unspecified devotee/inquirer addressing Jagannātha (Vishnu/Krishna)
Concept: True tīrtha, worthy recipient (pātra), and correct dāna-vidhi must be understood together; charity becomes sacred when aligned with sanctity, suitability, and procedure.
Application: When donating: choose a sanctified context (temple/tīrtha or a pure setting), verify recipient integrity/need, and follow respectful procedure (clean hands, humble speech, no publicity).
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lone devotee stands at the threshold of a grand Jagannātha shrine, palms joined, asking for the inner definition of tīrtha, the marks of a worthy recipient, and the full method of dāna. Behind, pilgrims carry waterpots and flower trays, suggesting that sanctity is both place and practice.","primary_figures":["Jagannātha (Vishnu/Krishna)","devotee/inquirer","temple priests","pilgrims"],"setting":"temple gateway with carved torana, offering stalls, and a glimpse of the sanctum lamp","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["midnight blue","vermillion","marigold gold","chalk white","emerald green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Jagannātha enthroned with large iconic eyes, gold leaf aura and ornate arch; the devotee kneels with a palm-leaf manuscript, priests holding lamps; rich reds/greens, gem-studded ornaments, and gold leaf highlighting temple jewelry and borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate temple courtyard scene—devotee addressing a gentle Krishna-form of Jagannātha; delicate brushwork, soft pastel sky, patterned textiles, refined faces, and a small river-ghāṭ in the distance hinting at tīrtha.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: frontal Jagannātha with bold outlines and stylized eyes; devotee at lower corner in añjali; lamp flames and lotus motifs; red/yellow/green palette with rhythmic temple-wall symmetry.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Krishna-centered Jagannātha as Śrī Kṛṣṇa, surrounded by lotus borders, cows and peacocks at the margins; intricate floral frames and deep blues with gold, with small vignettes of tīrtha bathing and dāna to brāhmaṇas."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["temple bells","conch shell","murmur of pilgrims","oil-lamp crackle"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तीर्थस्यापि = तीर्थस्य + अपि; यद्रूपं = यत् + रूपम्; पात्रस्यापि = पात्रस्य + अपि; दानस्यापि = दानस्य + अपि
FAQs
It requests a detailed teaching on three topics: what truly constitutes a tīrtha, what qualities make a person a fit recipient (pātra) of gifts, and the correct method (vidhi) of giving charity (dāna).
It places tīrtha (sacred place/practice) and dāna (ethical giving) side by side, implying that spiritual merit depends not only on where one goes, but also on how one acts—especially through properly directed generosity.
The verse implies that giving is not merely the act of donation; it is also discernment and responsibility—ensuring that gifts support dharma by being offered to suitable recipients in an appropriate manner.