Shloka 10
The Integrated Dharma-Discipline: Celibacy, Austerity, Charity, Observances, Forgiveness, Purity, Non-violence, Peace, Non-stealing, Self-restraint, and Guru-service
आत्मसौख्यं प्रतीच्छेद्यः स इहैव परत्र वा । अन्नस्यापि महादानं सुखस्यैव ध्रुवस्य वा
ātmasaukhyaṃ pratīcchedyaḥ sa ihaiva paratra vā | annasyāpi mahādānaṃ sukhasyaiva dhruvasya vā
మనిషి తన నిజమైన క్షేమసుఖాన్ని స్వీకరించి సాధించవలెను—ఈ లోకంలోనైనా పరలోకంలోనైనా. అన్నదాన మహాదానం కూడా సారంగా సుఖప్రదమై, స్థిరమైన చిరసుఖాన్ని ఇస్తుందని భావించబడుతుంది.
Unspecified (context-dependent within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa narrative)
Concept: Pursue true well-being here and hereafter; the great gift of food is fundamentally a gift of happiness—stable and enduring.
Application: Prioritize ‘sukha’ as long-term welfare (health, virtue, peace) over short-term pleasure; support food security—feed guests, donate to kitchens, avoid waste.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A large earthen pot of steaming rice sits at the center of a courtyard, and a donor serves food with calm reverence to a line of hungry travelers, ascetics, and children. Above, a subtle Vishnu-presence is suggested through a luminous śaṅkha-cakra pattern in the sky, implying that stable happiness flows from sustaining life.","primary_figures":["donor (gṛhastha)","hungry travelers","ascetic (bhikṣu)","children","subtle Vishnu symbol in the heavens"],"setting":"village courtyard with a shaded veranda, banana leaves as plates, water pot, and a small Tulasi-less shrine corner (generic)","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["terracotta","rice white","banana-leaf green","indigo","soft gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: annadāna courtyard scene with a central steaming pot, donor serving on banana leaves, gold leaf highlights on vessels and halos, rich reds/greens, ornate borders, subtle śaṅkha-cakra radiance in embossed gold above.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate courtyard with delicate architecture, gentle expressions of gratitude, soft shadows, cool indigo accents, lyrical realism in steam rising from food, distant trees and hills for depth.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: narrative panel of annadāna with bold outlines, stylized pots and banana leaves, rhythmic repetition of seated recipients, strong red-yellow-green palette, decorative temple-wall framing.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symmetrical annadāna composition framed by lotus and floral borders, peacocks at the edges, deep blue background with gold motifs, central offering vessels rendered with intricate patterning, subtle Vaishnava emblems overhead."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["clinking serving ladle","low temple bell","murmured blessings","soft footsteps","gentle silence after ‘dhruvasya’"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इहैव = इह + एव; अन्नस्यापि = अन्नस्य + अपि; सुखस्यैव = सुखस्य + एव.
FAQs
It links dharmic action with genuine well-being, stating that true benefit may manifest in this life or the next, and that charity—especially food-giving—ultimately produces stable happiness.
Because feeding others directly sustains life and alleviates suffering; the verse frames such giving as a “great gift” whose fruit is happiness and enduring merit.
Seek well-being through dharma rather than selfish pleasure, and practice generosity—particularly giving food—as a concrete, high-impact form of compassion that yields lasting good.