Shloka 17
Rite of Tree Consecration and the Merit of Planting Sacred Trees
दक्षिणा च पुनस्तद्वद्देया तत्रापि शक्तितः । यद्यदिष्टतमं किचित्तत्तद्दद्यादमत्सरी
dakṣiṇā ca punastadvaddeyā tatrāpi śaktitaḥ | yadyadiṣṭatamaṃ kicittattaddadyādamatsarī
และอีกครั้ง ณ ที่นั้นด้วย พึงถวายทักษิณาแก่ปุโรหิตตามกำลังศรัทธา สิ่งใดที่รักยิ่ง—ทรัพย์อันหวงแหน—พึงมอบสิ่งนั้นโดยปราศจากความริษยา
Unspecified (context-dependent within Adhyaya 28)
Concept: Dāna becomes spiritually potent when proportionate to capacity and offered without envy, even if it is one’s dearest possession.
Application: Give within your means, but include a meaningful ‘heart-offering’ (time, skill, cherished item) while consciously releasing comparison and resentment.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sacred courtyard prepared for a tree-festival rite: a young sapling stands beside a small altar, while a householder offers a cherished ornament and a modest pouch of coins as dakṣiṇā. The donor’s face shows calm resolve, and the priest’s blessing gesture emphasizes that the true offering is envy-free surrender.","primary_figures":["householder donor","priest (ṛtvik)","attendants holding ritual vessels"],"setting":"village temple courtyard with a newly planted sapling, kusa grass, kalasha, and offering trays","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["sandalwood beige","vermilion red","leaf green","antique gold","smoke gray"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a temple courtyard dāna scene beside a newly planted sapling and small yajña-altar, the donor presenting a cherished jewel and dakṣiṇā to a seated priest; heavy gold leaf halos, gem-studded ornaments, rich vermilion and emerald textiles, ornate arch motifs, crisp frontal icon-like composition, intricate floral borders and lotus medallions.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate courtyard scene with delicate linework—donor offering a beloved possession and coins to a priest near a sapling altar; cool natural palette, soft shading, refined faces, patterned shawls, small ritual vessels, distant trees and a pale sky, lyrical calm mood.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and flat natural pigments—sapling beside a lamp-lit altar, donor in traditional attire offering dakṣiṇā with palms extended, priest blessing; characteristic large eyes, red-yellow-green dominance, decorative temple wall framing, rhythmic ornamental foliage.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional courtyard with lotus borders and stylized foliage; a sapling altar at center, donor offering dakṣiṇā with reverence; intricate floral patterns, deep indigo background with gold highlights, peacock-feather motifs, temple lamps and hanging garlands, Nathdwara-inspired ornamentation."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["temple bells","soft conch shell","murmured mantras","oil-lamp crackle","gentle night insects"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पुनस्तद्वत् = पुनः + तद्वत् (विसर्ग-संधि); तद्वद्देया = तद्वत् + देया (द्वित्व/व्यञ्जन-संधि); तत्रापि = तत्र + अपि; यद्यदिष्टतमं = यत् + यत् + इष्टतमम् (द्-य् संधि); किचित् = किम् + चित्; तत्तद्दद्यात् = तत् + तत् + दद्यात् (त्-त् संधि)
FAQs
It instructs that dakṣiṇā (an honorarium or offering) should be given in the same spirit as other gifts, and specifically in proportion to one’s means (śaktitaḥ).
Giving what one values most tests sincerity and reduces attachment; it frames dāna as an inner discipline, not merely a formal ritual act.
Amatsarī means “without envy or spite,” teaching that charity should be performed with a clean motive—free from jealousy, competitiveness, or resentment.