Shloka 37
Praise of the Merits of Sacred Ponds, Tree-Planting, and Water-Charities
तदर्चा पितृवत्कार्या शुश्रूषां जलपिंडकम् । मर्त्यलोके च ते पुत्रास्तस्य जन्मनि जन्मनि
tadarcā pitṛvatkāryā śuśrūṣāṃ jalapiṃḍakam | martyaloke ca te putrāstasya janmani janmani
ପିତୃମାନଙ୍କ ପରି ତାହାର ଅର୍ଚ୍ଚନା କରିବା ଉଚିତ—ସେବା, ଜଳତର୍ପଣ ଓ ପିଣ୍ଡଦାନ ସହିତ। ଏବଂ ମର୍ତ୍ୟଲୋକରେ ତାହାର ପୁତ୍ରମାନେ ଜନ୍ମେ ଜନ୍ମେ ପୁନଃପୁନଃ ଜନ୍ମ ନେନ୍ତି।
Unspecified (context-dependent within Adhyaya 58; likely a narrator/sage instructing a listener)
Concept: One should honor benefactors with the same reverence as ancestors—through service, water-libations, and piṇḍa—ensuring continuity of lineage and gratitude across births.
Application: Practice remembrance and gratitude rituals for parents/elders/benefactors; perform tarpaṇa with clean water; offer food in their name; cultivate ‘service’ as daily discipline.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: city
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"On a quiet riverbank altar, a devotee offers clear water with cupped hands and places rice-balls on darbha grass, performing pitṛ-like worship for a revered benefactor. Behind him, the mango grove stands as witness, its shade falling like a protective blessing over the ritual space.","primary_figures":["householder performing tarpaṇa","pitṛs (subtle ancestral presences)","mango grove as sacred witness"],"setting":"simple outdoor śrāddha altar with darbha grass, clay lamp, water pot, and offerings near a calm bank","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["lamp gold","river silver","darbha green","clay terracotta","white rice"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a ritual scene with the performer seated before a small altar, gold leaf highlighting the lamp flame and sacred vessels; ornate border, stylized pitṛ presences as faint haloed figures above, rich reds and greens emphasizing sanctity and continuity.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate riverside śrāddha with delicate utensils and darbha, soft evening light, gentle ripples; muted earth tones with silver-blue water, refined posture and calm expression conveying reverence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines of the seated performer and ritual objects, flat pigments, stylized ancestral silhouettes above; strong red/yellow/green palette, temple-wall solemnity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ritual vignette framed by floral borders and lotus motifs, offerings arranged symmetrically; deep blue ground with gold accents, the mango grove stylized as repeating sacred pattern behind the altar."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft mantra murmur","water pouring","single bell chime","evening birds"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तदर्चा = तत्-अर्चा; पितृवत्कार्या = पितृवत् + कार्या; जलपिंडकम् = जल-पिण्डकम्; मर्त्यलोके = मर्त्य-लोके; पुत्रास्तस्य = पुत्राः + तस्य
FAQs
It prescribes worship in the manner of Pitṛ-offerings: respectful worship, personal service (śuśrūṣā), water-libations (jala), and rice-ball offerings (piṇḍa).
It links the performance of such worship and offerings with the promised continuity of sons being born in the human realm across successive births.
It emphasizes reverence, service, and gratitude expressed through prescribed rites—treating the object of worship with the same solemn respect given to one’s ancestors.