Shloka 58
The Glory of Charity: Land-Gifts, Śālagrāma Donation, and Food–Water as Supreme Gifts
ब्रह्महत्यादि पापानि यानि वै द्विजसत्तम । तानि दानेन हन्यंते तस्माद्दानं समाचरेत्
brahmahatyādi pāpāni yāni vai dvijasattama | tāni dānena hanyaṃte tasmāddānaṃ samācaret
Wahai yang terbaik antara para dwija, segala dosa—bermula dengan pembunuhan brāhmaṇa—dihapuskan oleh sedekah; maka hendaklah seseorang tekun mengamalkan pemberian.
Unspecified (didactic narration addressing a dvija)
Concept: Dāna has expiatory power: even grave sins are said to be destroyed by sincere charitable giving; therefore practice dāna diligently.
Application: Make regular, proportionate giving a habit (food, education support, medicine, temple service), paired with humility and non-harm.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dvija-sattama is addressed by a luminous teacher-figure as offerings—grain, water, cloth—flow outward like a cleansing river of light. Dark, smoky silhouettes labeled as ‘pāpa’ dissolve into lotus petals, suggesting the purifying potency of dāna.","primary_figures":["a teaching sage (generic)","dvija-sattama (listener)","symbolic forms of pāpa dissolving"],"setting":"Forest hermitage with a small altar, kusa grass, and a calm pond reflecting lotuses.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["lotus pink","saffron gold","emerald green","pearl white","midnight indigo"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central sage with gold-leaf halo instructing a dvija; offerings arranged in ornate vessels; dark ‘pāpa’ forms at the bottom transforming into lotus petals; heavy gold leaf on lotuses and vessels, rich reds/greens, jewel-like ornamentation and crisp iconographic symmetry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: serene hermitage scene with a pond of lotuses; subtle visual metaphor—shadowy stains in the water clearing as gifts are offered; delicate brushwork, cool greens and blues, refined faces, lyrical trees and distant hills.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines—sage and dvija in profile; offerings as stylized motifs; pāpa as dark curling shapes dissolving into bright lotus forms; strong red/yellow/green palette with temple-wall compositional balance.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: lotus-dominant composition—offerings placed before a small Viṣṇu symbol on an altar; floral borders and gold highlights; symbolic ‘pāpa’ clouds dispersing into petals; deep blue ground with intricate white and pink lotuses."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["gentle bells","flowing water","rustling leaves","soft conch at cadence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ब्रह्महत्यादि = ब्रह्महत्या + आदि. तस्माद्दानं = तस्मात् + दानम् (त् + द → द्द).
FAQs
The verse recommends dāna (charitable giving) as a means by which sins are destroyed.
It teaches that generosity is a central dharmic discipline and should be undertaken consistently, not merely occasionally.
Yes. By explicitly mentioning brahmahatyā (brahmin-slaying) among the sins, it presents dāna as a powerful form of expiation in this passage.