Shloka 154
Brahmā’s Puṣkara Sacrifice and the Manifestation of Sarasvatī
with Tīrtha-Merit Teachings
स याति शुद्धदेहश्च ब्रह्मणः परमं पदं । तस्मिंस्तीर्थे तु यैर्दत्तं तिलमात्रं तु कांचनं
sa yāti śuddhadehaśca brahmaṇaḥ paramaṃ padaṃ | tasmiṃstīrthe tu yairdattaṃ tilamātraṃ tu kāṃcanaṃ
Dia, dengan jasad yang disucikan, mencapai kedudukan tertinggi Brahmā. Di tīrtha itu, bahkan sedekah emas sebesar sebiji bijan pun mengurniakan pahala yang agung.
Unspecified (narrative voice within Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa Adhyaya 18)
Concept: At a potent tīrtha, even the smallest offering, made with śraddhā, becomes spiritually immense and purifies the embodied being toward higher lokas.
Application: Give consistently, even in small amounts, especially in sacred contexts; prioritize sincerity over scale; pair dāna with inner purification.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"On a serene river-ford sanctified by ancient rites, a humble pilgrim offers a tiny pinch of gold—no more than a sesame seed—into a priest’s palm beside a small altar. As the offering is made, the air shimmers with subtle divine approval, and a faint vision of Brahmaloka’s lotus-like radiance appears above the water, suggesting purification and ascent.","primary_figures":["pilgrim donor","tīrtha-priest (brāhmaṇa)","subtle celestial witnesses (gandharvas/apsarās as faint silhouettes)"],"setting":"riverbank tīrtha with stone steps (ghāṭa), kusa grass, small fire-altar, offering vessels, distant banyan and peepal trees","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["saffron gold","river jade","lotus pink","ivory white","deep indigo"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a sacred river-ghat tīrtha scene where a devotee offers a sesame-seed-sized gold gift to a brāhmaṇa priest; Vishnu’s unseen grace suggested by a radiant lotus-halo above the waters; heavy gold leaf embellishment on halos, ornaments, and the glinting offering; rich vermilion and emerald textiles; gem-studded jewelry; traditional South Indian iconographic detailing and ornate borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate river-ford with stepped ghāṭa, soft Himalayan-like atmospheric perspective; a modest donor extending a tiny gold pinch; lyrical naturalism in trees and rippling water; refined faces, pale sky wash; cool greens and blues with a gentle lotus-pink glow hinting at Brahmaloka’s lotus radiance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and flat natural pigments; river-ghat tīrtha with stylized waves; priest and donor in classical poses; a lotus-shaped aureole hovering above the water to signify purified ascent; dominant reds, yellows, and greens with controlled detailing and large expressive eyes.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ornate floral borders and lotus motifs framing a tīrtha riverbank; central act of tiny gold dāna; peacocks and cows at the margins as auspicious witnesses; deep blue water with gold highlights; intricate white floral filigree and temple-arch framing, Krishna-like divine presence implied through symbolic lotus and conch motifs."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["flowing water","soft temple bells","conch shell (distant)","morning birds"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शुद्धदेहश्च = शुद्धदेहः च; तस्मिंस्तीर्थे = तस्मिन् तीर्थे; यैर्दत्तं = यैः दत्तम्; कांचनं = काञ्चनम्
FAQs
It suggests that a tīrtha amplifies spiritual merit: even a very small act of charity performed there is portrayed as highly efficacious.
Yes. By highlighting a “sesame-seed measure” of gold, it implies that sincere giving—even in tiny amounts—can yield significant spiritual fruit when done in a sacred context.
The verse promotes dāna (charitable giving) and reverence for sacred places, teaching that purity of conduct and generosity are pathways to elevated spiritual states.