Shloka 22

Umā–Maheśvara-saṃvāda: Varṇa-bhraṃśa, Ācāra (Vṛtta), and Karmic Ascent/Decline

Devanagari script

उपवासे बलौ चापि ताम्रपात्रं विशिष्यते । बलिकभभिक्षा तथार्घ्य च पितृणां च तिलोदकम्‌

Transliteration

Baladeva uvāca: upavāse balau cāpi tāmrāpātraṁ viśiṣyate | balikabhikṣā tathārghyaṁ ca pitṝṇāṁ ca tilodakam |

Translation

ବଳଦେବ କହିଲେ—ଉପବାସ-ସଙ୍କଳ୍ପ ଓ ବଳି-ଅର୍ପଣରେ ତାମ୍ରପାତ୍ର ବିଶେଷ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ। ପୂଜା-ଉପଚାର, ଭିକ୍ଷା, ଅର୍ଘ୍ୟ ଏବଂ ପିତୃମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ତିଳମିଶ୍ରିତ ଜଳ—ଏସବୁ ତାମ୍ରପାତ୍ର ଦ୍ୱାରା ହିଁ ଦେବା ଉଚିତ; ନହେଲେ ତାହାର ଫଳ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଅଳ୍ପ ହୁଏ। ଏହା ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଗୁହ୍ୟ ଉପଦେଶ। ଏହିପରି କରିଲେ ଦେବତାମାନେ ସନ୍ତୁଷ୍ଟ ହୁଅନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• उपवासे: in fasting/at the time of fasting
• उपवासे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• बलौ: in an offering (bali)
• बलौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• ताम्रपात्रम्: a copper vessel
• ताम्रपात्रम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्रपात्र
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• विशिष्यते: is distinguished/is considered superior
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-शिष्
• Form: Present, Atmanepada, Third, Singular, Active (Atmanepada usage)

• बलिकभभिक्षा: offering and alms (bali and bhikṣā)
• बलिकभभिक्षा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि-भिक्षा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: likewise/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• अर्घ्यम्: arghya (honor-offering)
• अर्घ्यम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पितृणाम्: of/for the ancestors (pitṛs)
• पितृणाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• तिलोदकम्: sesame-mixed water
• तिलोदकम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिलोदक
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

बलदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Baladeva
• tāmrāpātra (copper vessel)
• arghya
• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• tilodaka (sesame-water)
• devatāḥ (deities)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that the material medium of ritual giving matters: offerings connected with fasting, worship, arghya, alms, and ancestral sesame-water should be presented in a copper vessel, which is said to enhance the efficacy (phala) of the rite and please the deities.

What is happening in the narrative?

Baladeva is instructing about proper ritual procedure (vidhi) within a dharma-discourse: he highlights a specific, ‘confidential’ rule regarding the use of a copper vessel for certain offerings, linking correct observance to greater spiritual result and divine satisfaction.