Shloka 55
Determination of the Householder’s Dharma
Dāna: Types, Recipients, Timing, and Fruits
दत्वा चाक्षयमाप्नोति नदीप्रस्रवणेषु च । दानधर्मात्परो धर्मो भूतानां नेह विद्यते
datvā cākṣayamāpnoti nadīprasravaṇeṣu ca | dānadharmātparo dharmo bhūtānāṃ neha vidyate
నదీ ప్రస్రవణ స్థలాల్లో కూడా దానం చేయడం వల్ల అక్షయ పుణ్యం లభిస్తుంది; ఈ లోకంలో జీవులకు దానధర్మం కన్నా గొప్ప ధర్మం లేదు।
Unspecified (narratorial/teachings context within Svarga-khaṇḍa)
Concept: No dharma surpasses dāna-dharma; charity—especially at pure waters—yields akṣaya merit.
Application: Make giving a non-negotiable practice (food, medicine, education support); pair it with purity—visit rivers/temples or create a ‘clean giving’ ritual at home (sankalpa, respectful offering, no humiliation of recipient).
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: river
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At a clear river spring emerging from rock, water pours into a small pool ringed by smooth stones and wild flowers. A donor places offerings and coins into a priest’s cloth while nearby villagers receive food—an image of dharma flowing like the spring itself, inexhaustible and pure.","primary_figures":["donor","local priest/ascetic","villagers/recipients","personified river spirit (subtle)"],"setting":"Mountain foothill spring with a small shrine, stone steps, and hanging bells; offerings arranged on leaf plates.","lighting_mood":"forest dappled with sparkling water highlights","color_palette":["crystal silver","moss green","stone gray","marigold orange","deep teal"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: sacred river spring with a small shrine—donor giving alms, water rendered with gold leaf highlights, ornate arch framing the scene, rich reds/greens, gem-studded vessels and jewelry, divine aura suggesting akṣaya merit.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate mountain spring landscape, fine ripples and rocks, donor offering gifts, recipients seated calmly, cool greens and blues with soft floral accents, refined faces and lyrical naturalism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized spring flowing from a rock, bold outlines, donor and priest in iconic poses, temple bells and lamp motifs, natural pigments with dominant greens/yellows/reds, expressive eyes and mural symmetry.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: spring scene framed by lotus borders, swans and peacocks near water, deep blue-green ground with gold wave motifs, central emphasis on the act of dāna as sacred offering, intricate floral patterns."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["spring water trickle","forest birds","soft bell chimes","leaf rustle","brief silence after the maxim"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चाक्षयमाप्नोति = च अक्षयम् आप्नोति; दानधर्मात्परो = दानधर्मात् परः; नेह = न इह.
FAQs
It teaches that charity yields akṣaya—imperishable merit—meaning its spiritual fruit does not diminish like ordinary worldly gains.
River sources and water-outflows are treated as tīrtha-like sacred locales; giving there is said to intensify the merit of dāna, linking generosity with sanctified geography.
It elevates dāna-dharma as the highest practical duty for beings in the world—encouraging generosity as a core expression of righteousness.