Shloka 73

Merit of Causeways and Crossings, Temple Construction Rewards, and the Rudrākṣa Mahātmya

Devanagari script

सुवर्णं रत्नसंयुक्तं दत्त्वा दशगुणं लभेत् । वज्रवैडूर्यगारुत्म माणिक्यादीननर्घतः

Transliteration

suvarṇaṃ ratnasaṃyuktaṃ dattvā daśaguṇaṃ labhet | vajravaiḍūryagārutma māṇikyādīnanarghataḥ

Translation

Sesiapa yang mendermakan emas bertatah permata akan memperoleh ganjaran sepuluh kali ganda—seperti vajra (berlian), vaidūrya (mata kucing), gārutma (zamrud), māṇikya (delima) dan batu permata lain yang tiada ternilai.

Word by Word

• सुवर्णम्: gold
• सुवर्णम्: कर्म (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• रत्न-संयुक्तम्: combined with gems
• रत्न-संयुक्तम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—रत्नैः संयुक्तम् (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• दत्वा: having given
• दत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (पूर्वकर्म/Absolutive relation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभावः

• दश-गुणम्: tenfold
• दश-गुणम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः—दश गुणाः यस्य (tenfold)

• लभेत्: would obtain
• लभेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• वज्र-वैडूर्य-गारुत्म: diamond, cat’s-eye, emerald (etc.)
• वज्र-वैडूर्य-गारुत्म: कर्म (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वैडूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गारुत्मत्/गारुत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (समाहार-द्वन्द्व); ‘diamond, cat’s-eye, emerald’ (as a collective)

• माणिक्य-आदीन्: rubies and the like
• माणिक्य-आदीन्: कर्म (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माणिक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; समासः—माणिक्यं आदिः येषाम् (बहुव्रीहिवत् ‘etc.’-sense; व्यवहारतः ‘-आदि’ प्रत्ययार्थ-तत्पुरुष)

• अनर्घतः: as invaluable / pricelessly
• अनर्घतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनर्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त/ablatival adverb): ‘as pricelessly/being invaluable’

Speaker

Unspecified (contextual narrator within Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa, Adhyaya 59)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Enhanced intention and value in dāna (gold with gems) yields amplified karmic return (tenfold).

Application: Offer your best—quality over leftovers—when supporting worship, learning, and relief; let generosity refine attachment to possessions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A jewelled golden offering plate glows with diamond, vaidūrya, emerald, and ruby, each stone catching a different ray of light like condensed planets. Above the donor, a subtle mandala of ten concentric halos suggests the ‘tenfold’ return, as if merit multiplies in visible geometry.","primary_figures":["pious donor","brāhmaṇa recipient or temple priest","celestial accountant of karma (optional)"],"setting":"Temple sanctum threshold with a jeweled tray; background fades into a cosmic mandala indicating multiplied merit","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["molten gold","ruby red","emerald green","diamond white","deep indigo"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: close-up of a gem-studded gold tray offered before a Vishnu shrine; thick gold leaf highlights on ornaments and tray, embedded jewel textures, rich maroon and green drapery, symmetrical composition with a ten-ring halo motif above the offering.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: refined hands presenting a small but exquisitely detailed jeweled gold piece; delicate stippling for gems, cool indigo shadows, soft sunrise wash, thin architectural lines of a shrine, lyrical minimalism emphasizing precious detail.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized gemstones as bold color blocks (red/green/white) set into gold; priest and donor in profile with large expressive eyes; flat temple backdrop with lotus borders, strong outlines and warm yellow ground.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: jeweled offering placed amid lotus clusters and floral arabesques; tenfold return shown as ten lotus medallions radiating outward; deep blue field, gold detailing, peacocks and cows as auspicious witnesses near the border."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"celebratory","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["hand cymbals (tāla) softly","temple bells","gentle crowd murmur of a donation ceremony","conch shell at cadence"]}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: माणिक्यादीननर्घतः = माणिक्यादीन् + अनर्घतः.

FAQs

What religious idea does this verse teach about charity (dāna)?

It teaches that offering valuable gifts—especially gold adorned with precious gems—produces multiplied spiritual merit (puṇya), described here as a tenfold result.

Which gemstones are explicitly named in this shloka?

The verse names vajra (diamond), vaiḍūrya (cat’s-eye), gārutma (emerald), and māṇikya (ruby), and then includes other priceless gems as well.

What is the ethical lesson implied by the “tenfold reward” statement?

The ethical emphasis is generosity: relinquishing prized possessions for righteous giving is portrayed as spiritually fruitful, encouraging detachment and benevolence.