Shloka 138
The Marks of Merit and the Destinies of Beings
Divine vs Demonic Traits
दातारं ये रोधयंति पातके प्रेरयंति च । दीनानाथान्पीडयंति शातयंति धरां नराः
dātāraṃ ye rodhayaṃti pātake prerayaṃti ca | dīnānāthānpīḍayaṃti śātayaṃti dharāṃ narāḥ
Mereka yang menghalang orang yang bersedekah, menghasut orang lain kepada dosa; dan menindas yang miskin serta tidak berpelindung—orang demikian menyeksa bumi dan tatanannya.
Unspecified (narrative voice within Padma Purana context)
Concept: To obstruct charity, incite sin, and oppress the helpless is not merely personal wrongdoing—it is violence against the world-order and its most vulnerable beings.
Application: Protect and enable generosity (don’t shame or block donors); refuse to be an instigator; actively support the vulnerable through food, shelter, legal/ethical advocacy; practice non-harm in speech and policy.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A generous householder extends a bowl of grain toward a line of hungry, rag-clad people, but a cruel official blocks his arm while whispering temptations to nearby youths. Above, Bhū-devī weeps softly as the scene darkens, while a faint Viṣṇu-like protective aura gathers around the oppressed, hinting that divine order sides with the vulnerable.","primary_figures":["a donor (dātā)","oppressor/official","destitute and unprotected (dīna-anātha)","subtle Bhū-devī presence","subtle Viṣṇu protective aura"],"setting":"Marketplace edge near a small shrine; sacks of grain, water pot, and a shaded corner where the poor gather.","lighting_mood":"high-contrast—harsh noon light on injustice with a soft divine glow around the helpless","color_palette":["sun-bleached beige","grain gold","blood red","deep teal","soft white radiance"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central act of dāna with gold leaf highlighting the offered grain and the compassionate gaze; the obstructing figure rendered with darker tones; Bhū-devī in upper register with ornate jewelry and a sorrowful expression; rich reds/greens, gem-studded ornaments, gold leaf radiance around the protected poor, traditional iconography of dharma triumphing over cruelty.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: detailed market scene with delicate textiles; expressive faces of the poor; the donor’s hand extended, blocked mid-gesture; subtle divine aura painted as translucent wash; cool shadows under awnings, refined brushwork conveying compassion and moral tension.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, dramatic gestures; donor and oppressor in strong profile; the poor clustered with large expressive eyes; natural pigments with dominant reds/yellows/greens; stylized aura motifs around the oppressed, temple-wall narrative clarity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central dāna scene framed by floral borders; lotus motifs near the donor, thorny creepers near the oppressor; deep blue background with gold highlights; peacocks and cows subtly included as symbols of gentleness, emphasizing Vaiṣṇava compassion."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["pleading voices (soft)","market ambience (distant)","temple bell","conch shell (brief, admonitory)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दातारं → दातारम्; रोधयंति → रोधयन्ति; प्रेरयंति → प्रेरयन्ति; दीनानाथान्पीडयंति → दीनानाथान् पीडयन्ति; शातयंति → शातयन्ति; धरां → धराम्.
FAQs
It condemns blocking acts of generosity, pushing others into sinful conduct, and harming the poor and unprotected—framing these as serious violations of dharma.
It implies disturbing the moral and social order and harming living beings who depend on the earth—an image for causing widespread suffering and instability.
It treats giving as a dharmic good that should be supported, not obstructed, and links social compassion—especially toward the helpless—with righteous conduct.