Shloka 22
Umā–Maheśvara-saṃvāda: Varṇa-bhraṃśa, Ācāra (Vṛtta), and Karmic Ascent/Decline
उपवासे बलौ चापि ताम्रपात्रं विशिष्यते । बलिकभभिक्षा तथार्घ्य च पितृणां च तिलोदकम्
Baladeva uvāca: upavāse balau cāpi tāmrāpātraṁ viśiṣyate | balikabhikṣā tathārghyaṁ ca pitṝṇāṁ ca tilodakam |
बलदेव उवाच—उपवासेषु बलिषु च ताम्रपात्रं विशिष्यते। पूजोपहारो भिक्षा च तथार्घ्यं पितृणां तिलोदकं च ताम्रपात्रेणैव दातव्यम्; अन्यथा तेषां फलं स्वल्पं भवति। एषा गुह्या परमा शिक्षा; एवं कृत्वा देवता तुष्यन्ति।
बलदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.
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.