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

Ao oferecer ouro incrustado de gemas, obtém-se mérito dez vezes maior: diamante, vaidūrya (olho-de-gato), gārutma (esmeralda), rubi e outras pedras inestimáveis.

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.