Shloka 95
The Episode of Vena: Purification, the ‘Vāsudevābhidhā’ Hymn, and the Dharma of Charity
Times, Tīrthas, Worthy Recipients
अज्ञातानां सुतीर्थानां देवानां नृपसत्तम । स्नाने दाने महाराज मन्नाम हि समुच्चरेत्
ajñātānāṃ sutīrthānāṃ devānāṃ nṛpasattama | snāne dāne mahārāja mannāma hi samuccaret
ఓ నృపసత్తమా, తెలియని సుతీర్థాలు మరియు దేవతల నిమిత్తం, ఓ మహారాజా—స్నానం, దానం చేసే వేళ తప్పక నా నామాన్ని ఉచ్చరించవలెను.
Unspecified (verse addresses a king; likely a sage/deity instructing the king in ritual practice)
Concept: In acts of bathing and charity, utter the divine Name—this sanctifies the rite even when the tīrtha/deity is not identified.
Application: Before giving charity or beginning a purifying act, say a simple dedication like ‘Nārāyaṇāya’ and offer the merit for all beings; this reduces anxiety about ‘doing it perfectly’ and increases sincerity.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king stands at a river ghat, pouring water over his head in snāna, then placing coins and food into the hands of a poor traveler. As he softly utters the divine Name, a subtle luminous script appears above the offering, implying that nāma completes what knowledge lacks.","primary_figures":["king (nṛpasattama)","poor traveler/brahmin recipient","invisible/auric Viṣṇu presence"],"setting":"stone steps descending into a river; small donation area with a cloth bundle of grains; distant temple spire","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["sunrise gold","stone gray","river blue","white","vermillion"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: king at ghat performing snāna and dāna, gold leaf highlights on water droplets and sacred syllables, ornate temple spire in background, rich red-green garments, gem-studded crown, conch-disc motifs framing the scene, lotus border patterns.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: gentle dawn at a quiet ghat, king offering alms with humility, delicate river texture, soft pastel sky, refined expressions, subtle glowing calligraphy of the divine Name above the gift, distant temple silhouette.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined royal figure and recipient, stylized river steps, strong warm pigments, decorative borders with lotus and conch, large expressive eyes conveying compassion and devotion, sacred syllables rendered as ornamental forms.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central ghat scene with symmetrical attendants, border of floral vines and small lotuses, deep indigo river with gold highlights, sacred Name depicted as decorative calligraphic motif, peacocks near the steps, intricate textile detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["flowing water","alms bowl resonance","temple bells (soft)","conch shell (distant)","morning birds"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मन्नाम = मत् + नाम; समुच्चरेत् = सम् + उद् + चर् (उच्चारणार्थे)।
FAQs
It suggests a way to include and honor sacred places and deities one may not know by name—by invoking the speaker’s name during ritual acts, the merit is not limited by one’s incomplete knowledge.
It elevates nāma-smaraṇa/nāma-ucchāraṇa (uttering the divine name) as a potent devotional supplement to ritual actions like bathing and charity, indicating that devotion can complete or empower formal rites.
Perform snāna and dāna with mindful remembrance—uttering the divine name—so that one’s acts are intentional, inclusive, and spiritually oriented rather than merely mechanical.