Shloka 47

The Episode of Vena: Purification, the ‘Vāsudevābhidhā’ Hymn, and the Dharma of Charity

Times, Tīrthas, Worthy Recipients

Devanagari script

तीर्थस्यापि च यद्रूपं पात्रस्यापि सुलक्षणम् । दानस्यापि जगन्नाथ विधिं विस्तरतो वद

Transliteration

tīrthasyāpi ca yadrūpaṃ pātrasyāpi sulakṣaṇam | dānasyāpi jagannātha vidhiṃ vistarato vada

Translation

ਹੇ ਜਗੰਨਾਥ! ਤੀਰਥ ਦਾ ਸੱਚਾ ਸਰੂਪ, ਯੋਗ ਪਾਤ੍ਰ ਦੇ ਸੁਲੱਖਣ, ਅਤੇ ਦਾਨ ਦੀ ਵਿਧੀ—ਇਹ ਸਭ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਵਿਸਤਾਰ ਨਾਲ ਕਹੋ।

Word by Word

• तीर्थस्य: of the sacred place
• तीर्थस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन — 'of the tīrtha'

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Additive particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also/even)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Visheshana (Relative qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन — relative 'which/whatever' (qualifying rūpam)

• रूपम्: form, nature
• रूपम्: Karma (Object understood with vada/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन — 'form/nature'

• पात्रस्य: of the recipient
• पात्रस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन — 'of the recipient/vessel'

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Additive particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, 'also'

• सुलक्षणम्: good characteristics
• सुलक्षणम्: Karma (Object understood with vada/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (सु-लक्षणम् = उत्तमं लक्षणम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — 'good characteristic'

• दानस्य: of giving (charity)
• दानस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन — 'of charity/gift'

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Additive particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, 'also'

• जगन्नाथ: O Lord of the world
• जगन्नाथ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगन्नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जगतः नाथः); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन — address

• विधिम्: procedure, rule
• विधिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन — object

• विस्तरतः: in detail
• विस्तरतः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विस्तरतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) — 'in detail/at length'

• वद: tell
• वद: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद — 'speak/tell'

Speaker

Unspecified devotee/inquirer addressing Jagannātha (Vishnu/Krishna)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: तीर्थस्यापि = तीर्थस्य + अपि; यद्रूपं = यत् + रूपम्; पात्रस्यापि = पात्रस्य + अपि; दानस्यापि = दानस्य + अपि

Characters & Entities

• Jagannātha

FAQs

What does this verse ask Jagannātha to explain?

It requests a detailed teaching on three topics: what truly constitutes a tīrtha, what qualities make a person a fit recipient (pātra) of gifts, and the correct method (vidhi) of giving charity (dāna).

How does this verse frame the relationship between pilgrimage and charity?

It places tīrtha (sacred place/practice) and dāna (ethical giving) side by side, implying that spiritual merit depends not only on where one goes, but also on how one acts—especially through properly directed generosity.

What is the ethical lesson implied by asking about the 'pātra' (worthy recipient)?

The verse implies that giving is not merely the act of donation; it is also discernment and responsibility—ensuring that gifts support dharma by being offered to suitable recipients in an appropriate manner.