Shloka 40
Vrata–Dāna Compendium at Puṣkara: Puṣpavāhana’s Account and the Ṣaṣṭhī-vrata Purification Rite
कर्तव्या शक्तितो देव विप्रेभ्यो दक्षिणा नृप । ज्येष्ठे गावः प्रदातव्या मध्यमे भूमिरुत्तमा
kartavyā śaktito deva viprebhyo dakṣiṇā nṛpa | jyeṣṭhe gāvaḥ pradātavyā madhyame bhūmiruttamā
ข้าแต่มหาราช ผู้ทรงเกียรติ พึงถวายทักษิณาแก่พราหมณ์ตามกำลังศรัทธาและความสามารถ ของประเสริฐให้ถวายโค; ของปานกลางให้ถวายที่ดินอันดีเลิศ
Unspecified (dialogue context not provided in the input excerpt)
Concept: Dakṣiṇā to brāhmaṇas should be given according to one’s capacity; graded gifts (cow/land) embody proportional righteousness rather than performative excess.
Application: Practice calibrated generosity: set a sustainable giving rule (percentage or fixed amount), prioritize life-supporting gifts (food, education, healthcare, livelihood assets), and give without debt or vanity.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A righteous king stands with folded hands before a serene assembly of brāhmaṇas. In the foreground, a white cow adorned with a garland is offered, while behind it a palm-leaf deed and a small plot of fertile land are symbolically presented, emphasizing graded generosity according to capacity.","primary_figures":["dharma-minded king (nṛpa)","brāhmaṇa recipients","attendant with cow","scribe holding land-grant tablet"],"setting":"royal yajña-hall or courtyard with kusa grass, sacrificial posts, and orderly seating of priests","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["ivory white","saffron ochre","emerald green","vermillion red","antique gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a king offering a garlanded white cow and a symbolic land-grant to seated brāhmaṇas in a yajña-hall, heavy gold leaf halos, rich vermillion and emerald textiles, gem-studded ornaments, ornate pillars, sacred vessels and kusa grass rendered with South Indian iconographic symmetry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a gentle courtly scene of dāna—king with folded hands offering a white cow and a land deed to calm brāhmaṇas, delicate brushwork, soft greens of cultivated fields in the background, refined faces, pale sky wash, lyrical naturalism and fine textile patterns.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined figures in a ritual courtyard—king presenting cow and land symbol to brāhmaṇas, stylized eyes, flat yet vibrant blocks of red/yellow/green, temple architecture motifs, ritual vessels and lamps, dignified stillness.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional dāna tableau framed by lotus and floral borders—garlanded cow at center, attendants and brāhmaṇas in symmetrical arrangement, deep indigo background with gold detailing, peacock accents, intricate textile patterns, auspicious motifs suggesting yajña and purity."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","low murmur of Vedic chanting","crackle of sacrificial fire"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भूमिरुत्तमा = भूमिः + उत्तमा; कर्तव्या/प्रदातव्या = तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive)
FAQs
It teaches proportional charity: gifts to learned Brāhmaṇas should be given according to one’s means, with cows regarded as a foremost gift and land as an excellent middling gift.
They are treated as high-value, sustaining forms of charity—cows support daily livelihood (milk, agriculture support), while land provides enduring means of sustenance and social stability.
It emphasizes responsible generosity: give sincerely within capacity, prioritize gifts that genuinely support recipients, and uphold dharma through sustained, welfare-oriented giving.