Shloka 4
Fruits of Occasional (Festival-Specific) Charity — The Vena Episode
सत्पात्रेभ्यः प्रदत्तानि तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु । गजं रथं प्रदत्ते यो ह्यश्वं चापि नृपोत्तम
satpātrebhyaḥ pradattāni tasya puṇyaphalaṃ śṛṇu | gajaṃ rathaṃ pradatte yo hyaśvaṃ cāpi nṛpottama
సత్పాత్రులకు ఇచ్చిన దానాల పుణ్యఫలాన్ని వినుము. ఓ నృపోత్తమా! ఎవడు ఏనుగు, రథం మరియు గుర్రమును కూడా దానం చేస్తాడో, అతనికి మహాపుణ్యం కలుగును.
Unspecified in the provided excerpt (context needed from surrounding verses to confirm the dialogue pair).
Concept: Dāna to worthy recipients (satpātra) yields amplified puṇya; the worthiness of the receiver is integral to the fruit.
Application: Give thoughtfully: verify integrity/need, give without humiliation, and match the gift to genuine welfare (education, food, medicine, dharma-support).
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal donor stands before a learned brāhmaṇa assembly, offering symbolic gifts—an elephant with ceremonial caparison, a chariot with banners, and a horse with jeweled harness. The brāhmaṇas raise hands in blessing while attendants hold water-pots for saṅkalpa, emphasizing satpātra-dāna and dharmic kingship.","primary_figures":["dhārmika king (nṛpottama)","virtuous brāhmaṇas (satpātra)","royal attendants"],"setting":"Temple-adjacent charity pavilion (dāna-maṇḍapa) with lotus motifs, palm-leaf manuscripts, and a small yajña-kuṇḍa nearby","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["saffron gold","deep vermilion","ivory white","emerald green","indigo blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: dhārmika king offering an elephant, chariot, and horse to satpātra brāhmaṇas in a dāna-maṇḍapa, gold leaf halos, rich red-green textiles, gem-studded crowns and ornaments, ornate pillars with lotus carvings, sacred water vessel for saṅkalpa, symmetrical South Indian iconographic composition","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a gentle courtly scene of a king gifting a caparisoned elephant, a bannered chariot, and a bridled horse to serene brāhmaṇas, delicate brushwork, refined faces, soft architectural pavilion, distant hills and flowering trees, lyrical naturalism and cool tonal gradients","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined king with layered jewelry presenting dāna to brāhmaṇas, stylized elephant and horse, temple pavilion backdrop, natural pigment palette with dominant reds/yellows/greens, large expressive eyes, rhythmic ornamental borders with lotus and conch motifs","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional dāna scene framed by intricate floral borders and lotus motifs, attendants holding kalasha, stylized animals (elephant/horse) as auspicious symbols, deep blue background with gold highlights, temple courtyard feel, ornate textile patterns and symmetrical layout"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["temple bells","soft conch shell","murmured Vedic blessings","rustle of silk","distant courtyard birds"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ह्यश्वम् = हि + अश्वम् (इ + अ → य); चापि = च + अपि (अ + अ → आ)
FAQs
It teaches that charity (dāna) yields spiritual merit (puṇya) especially when given to worthy recipients (satpātra), and it introduces examples of high-value royal gifts.
A satpātra is a morally and spiritually fit recipient—typically one who is virtuous, disciplined, and deserving—so that the donor’s gift becomes especially fruitful in merit.
They represent major royal assets; the verse uses them to illustrate the greatness of certain forms of dāna and to frame a discussion of their corresponding spiritual results.