Shloka 18
Description of the Fruits of Pilgrimage
Puṣkara Tīrtha Māhātmya
अनुपोष्य त्रिरात्राणि तीर्थाभिगमनेन च । अदत्वा कांचनं गाश्च दरिद्रो नाम जायते
anupoṣya trirātrāṇi tīrthābhigamanena ca | adatvā kāṃcanaṃ gāśca daridro nāma jāyate
త్రిరాత్ర ఉపవాసాన్ని ఆచరించక, తీర్థాభిగమనాన్ని కూడా విస్మరించి, స్వర్ణమును గోవులను దానం చేయకపోతే—అతడు ‘దరిద్రుడు’ అని పేరుగాంచును.
Unspecified (context-dependent within Svarga-khaṇḍa 3.11 dialogue)
Concept: Neglect of tapas (three-night fast), pilgrimage, and charity results in the condition (and reputation) of destitution.
Application: Keep small, regular disciplines: occasional short fasts, visit nearby sacred places, and give within means (even modest charity). Avoid postponing dharma until ‘wealth arrives’.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A stern yet compassionate sage points toward a tīrtha in the distance while a man hesitates, clutching his empty pouch. Three nights are symbolized by three moons above, and beside the path stand a cow and a small heap of gold—icons of charity—casting long shadows that suggest consequences of neglect.","primary_figures":["sage instructor","hesitant householder","cow (symbol of go-dāna)","king or court witness (optional)"],"setting":"crossroads near a river-ghat; a small shrine and a resting pavilion for pilgrims","lighting_mood":"moonlit","color_palette":["midnight blue","silver white","muted gold","earth brown","river teal"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: moonlit moral tableau—sage admonishing a devotee at a crossroads leading to a glowing river-tīrtha, three silver moons in the sky, gold leaf accents on a small pile of hiraṇya and on the cow’s ornaments, rich maroon and green garments, ornate borders, expressive faces conveying warning and compassion.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: quiet night scene with three moons, delicate landscape and river shimmer, a cow tethered near a pilgrim rest-house, the sage’s gesture guiding toward the ghat, subtle emotional tension, cool blues and silvers with restrained gold highlights.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: iconic night palette with bold outlines, three moon discs above, stylized river bands and ghat steps, sage in teaching posture, symbolic cow and gold rendered clearly, red/yellow/green accents against deep blue, temple-wall didactic clarity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central night-time tīrtha path framed by floral borders, three moon medallions at top, side motifs of lamps and offering plates, cow and gold as symbolic elements, deep indigo with gold and white detailing, peacocks perched on shrine roof, intricate lotus patterns along the river."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["night insects","distant flowing water","single temple bell","low conch note","silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गाश्च = गाः + च
FAQs
The verse highlights three connected duties: observing a three-night fast (trirātra), visiting a sacred tīrtha, and giving charity—specifically gold and cows.
Not purely. While it uses the term “daridra” (poor), the framing suggests poverty as a condition linked to neglect of religious disciplines (vrata), pilgrimage (tīrtha-yātrā), and generosity (dāna).
It teaches that spiritual life should include self-discipline (fasting), reverence for sacred places (pilgrimage), and social responsibility (charity), and that neglecting these leads to a diminished or “impoverished” state.