Shloka 18
Description of the Rules for Charitable Gifts and Related Rites
Gaṅgā-māhātmya
पात्रां तरविशेषेण फलं चैवोत्तरोत्तरम् । विभवे सति यो मोहान्न कुर्याद्विधिविस्तरम् ॥ १८ ॥
pātrāṃ taraviśeṣeṇa phalaṃ caivottarottaram | vibhave sati yo mohānna kuryādvidhivistaram || 18 ||
แม้ผู้รับจะมิได้เป็นปาตระผู้เลิศ ผลแห่งทานก็ยังเพิ่มขึ้นเป็นลำดับตามความประเสริฐของสิ่งที่ถวาย แต่ผู้ใดมีทรัพย์พร้อมแล้วกลับหลงมัวไม่ประกอบพิธีให้ครบถ้วน ผู้นั้นย่อมไม่ได้ผลอันสูงยิ่ง
Suta (narrating the teaching as part of the Uttara-Bhaga discourse on dāna and tīrtha-related dharma)
Vrata: none
Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"bhakti","emotional_journey":"Moves from calm instruction about graded merit in dāna to a cautionary note: negligence born of moha blocks higher spiritual results."}
FAQs
It teaches that dharmic acts like dāna yield graded spiritual merit, but neglecting the prescribed procedure despite having resources diminishes the higher fruit of the act.
By stressing sincerity and completeness in dharmic offerings: when one has capacity, performing the act properly becomes an expression of reverence and disciplined devotion rather than careless, half-hearted practice.
Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: “vidhi-vistara” points to following the prescribed steps of a rite—how an act is to be performed, not merely that it is performed.