Shloka 46
Determination of the Householder’s Dharma
Dāna: Types, Recipients, Timing, and Fruits
अन्नदाता श्रियं स्वेष्टां गोदो ब्राह्मणविष्टपम् । यानशय्याप्रदो भार्य्यामैश्वर्यमभयप्रदः
annadātā śriyaṃ sveṣṭāṃ godo brāhmaṇaviṣṭapam | yānaśayyāprado bhāryyāmaiśvaryamabhayapradaḥ
अन्नदाता स्वेष्टां श्रियं प्राप्नोति, गोदः ब्राह्मणविष्टपम्; यानशय्याप्रदः भार्यां, अभयप्रदः ऐश्वर्यम्।
Not explicitly stated in the provided excerpt (context likely a didactic narration within a Pulastya–Bhīṣma dialogue in Svarga-khaṇḍa).
Concept: Charity that sustains life (food), dharma (cows supporting yajña and livelihood), comfort (vehicles/beds), and safety (fearlessness) yields corresponding prosperity, heavenly status, family fulfillment, and sovereignty.
Application: Prioritize ‘life-supporting’ giving: feed others, support ethical animal care, provide shelter/transport for the needy, and practice abhaya-dāna by reducing fear—through fairness, non-violence, and protection of dependents.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A grand dharma-procession unfolds: a donor distributes steaming rice to the hungry, offers a gentle cow adorned with garlands to a learned brāhmaṇa, and gifts a simple cart and bedding to a weary family. At the climax, the donor raises a hand in the gesture of protection (abhaya-mudrā) before frightened villagers, while above them a radiant crown-and-throne vision symbolizes the sovereignty born from fearless compassion.","primary_figures":["donor (king or householder)","hungry recipients","brāhmaṇa recipient","cow (go)","protected villagers","celestial heralds (optional)"],"setting":"Town square near a temple gate; charity pavilion with pots of food, cow-pen area, carts and bedding stacked; sky shows a faint brāhmaṇa-viṣṭapa realm.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["rice-white","marigold orange","cowhide umber","royal blue","sunlit gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central donor-king in abhaya-mudrā, distributing anna and gifting a decorated cow; ornate temple gateway, gold leaf halos and throne-vision above, rich reds/greens, gem-studded crowns, embossed highlights on vessels and ornaments.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: compassionate civic scene with delicate faces; donor feeding the poor, gifting a cow to a brāhmaṇa, offering cart and bedding; soft dawn sky, gentle hills in distance, refined textiles, subtle celestial realm sketched above in pale gold.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined donor with raised abhaya hand, stylized cow with decorative patterns, recipients in clear narrative grouping; warm reds/yellows/greens, temple-wall symmetry, ornamental borders emphasizing dharma and protection.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central motif of a large anna-bhāṇḍa (food vessel) surrounded by lotus medallions showing go-dāna, śayyā-dāna, yāna-dāna, and abhaya-dāna; deep blue background with gold floral borders, peacocks and cows integrated into the patterning."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"celebratory","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["community murmurs","temple bells","cows lowing","serving ladles clinking","conch shell"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यānaśayyāprado = यानशय्याप्रदः; भāryyāmaiśvaryamabhayapradaḥ = भार्याम् + ऐश्वर्यम् + अभयप्रदः.
FAQs
It teaches the doctrine of dāna-phala: specific gifts (food, cows, vehicles/beds, fearlessness) are said to yield corresponding forms of welfare—prosperity, heavenly attainment, family blessing, and sovereignty.
It denotes a meritorious heavenly realm associated with brāhmaṇas—i.e., a high, auspicious “world/heaven” attained through the especially praised gift of cows (go-dāna).
Abhaya-dāna is framed as protection and assurance of safety; the verse states that one who grants fearlessness gains aiśvarya—lordship, authority, and power—highlighting the ethical value of safeguarding others.