Shloka 102
Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā
नदी बहूदका शाकमृत्पर्णानि समित्कुशाः / आग्नेयो ब्रह्मघोषश्च विप्राणां धनमुत्तमम्
nadī bahūdakā śākamṛtparṇāni samitkuśāḥ / āgneyo brahmaghoṣaśca viprāṇāṃ dhanamuttamam
สำหรับพราหมณ์ ทรัพย์อันประเสริฐยิ่งคือ—แม่น้ำที่อุดมด้วยน้ำ ผักและใบเขียวที่กินได้ ดินและใบไม้เพื่อกิจศักดิ์สิทธิ์ ฟืนและหญ้ากุศะสำหรับพิธี ไฟศักดิ์สิทธิ์ และเสียงสวดพระเวทอันเป็นพรหมโฆษะ।
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda)
Concept: True wealth for a Brahmana is ritual-sustaining, non-possessive resources and Vedic sound rather than hoarded property.
Vedantic Theme: Śabda-prāmāṇya and sattvic living: purity of means supports clarity for brahma-jñāna; external supports are subordinate to Vedic wisdom.
Application: Value and protect water sources; maintain simple stores for rites (kuśa, samit); prioritize study/recitation and teaching over accumulation.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: natural feature
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213 (context: brāhmaṇa-vṛtti, acceptance of gifts, prāyaścitta)
FAQs
This verse treats brahmaghoṣa as “highest wealth,” implying that Vedic sound and correct chanting are central supports of dharma and the effectiveness of rites performed by vipras.
Items named here—river water, kuśa, samit, and agni—are core ritual supports, and the verse frames them as the true resources enabling Brahmanas to conduct śrāddha-related ceremonies properly.
Value and support authentic learning, chanting, and simple ritual purity (clean water, sacred grass, fire/lamps) rather than viewing “wealth” only as money—especially when arranging priest-led rites.