Shloka 43
Praise of Digging Wells and Building Water-Reservoirs
The Merit of Water-Works
खातं तु जनयित्वा तु स्वर्गं चाक्षयमश्नुते । तस्मात्खातादिकं विप्राः शक्तितो यः करिष्यति
khātaṃ tu janayitvā tu svargaṃ cākṣayamaśnute | tasmātkhātādikaṃ viprāḥ śaktito yaḥ kariṣyati
ผู้ใดให้มีการทำบ่อน้ำหรือสระน้ำขึ้น ย่อมบรรลุสวรรค์อันไม่เสื่อมสูญ ดังนั้น โอ้ท่านวิปรพราหมณ์ ผู้ใดตามกำลังจะกระทำกิจเช่นการขุดและอื่น ๆ…
Unspecified (contextual narrator/teacher voice within Adhyaya 57)
Concept: Commissioning a water-reservoir grants imperishable heaven; therefore each person should undertake such works according to capacity (śakti).
Application: Do scalable service: sponsor a community water filter, repair a handpump, fund a small tank, or support watershed projects—consistent, capacity-based dharma.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A newly completed stepwell gleams with fresh stone steps descending into cool blue water, garlanded with marigolds. Brāhmaṇas bless the patron as villagers draw water—each bucket lifted becomes a visible thread of merit rising toward a faint celestial horizon.","primary_figures":["patron (dānapati)","brāhmaṇas offering blessings","villagers drawing water","craftsmen/stonemasons"],"setting":"Stone stepwell or tank with carved pillars, small Viṣṇu emblem on a shrine slab, earthen lamps along the steps, banyan shade nearby.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["stone gray","deep water blue","marigold orange","lamp gold","banyan green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: ornate stepwell scene with gold-leaf highlights on lamps and jewelry; central patron receiving brāhmaṇa blessings; symmetrical carved pillars; rich vermilion and emerald borders; embossed gold on garlands and shrine motifs (śaṅkha-cakra).","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: elegant stepwell architecture with delicate linework; villagers in flowing garments drawing water; soft evening light; cool blues and muted greens with fine gold accents; tranquil, refined faces and gentle narrative movement.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines of stepwell steps and pillars; warm pigment blocks; prominent blessing gesture (āśīrvāda) by brāhmaṇas; stylized lamps and garlands; devotional clarity with red/yellow/green dominance.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: stepwell framed by lotus and floral borders; repeated motifs of water pots; peacocks and cows at the periphery; deep indigo and gold detailing; celebratory yet serene depiction of communal water blessing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["stone chisel taps","water echo in stepwell","soft chanting of blessings","lamp crackle","conch in distance"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चाक्षयमश्नुते = च + अक्षयम् + अश्नुते; तस्मात्खातादिकम् = तस्मात् + खातादिकम्.
FAQs
The verse praises commissioning or creating public water resources—such as wells or tanks—as a highly meritorious act.
It states that one attains “akṣaya svarga,” an imperishable or enduring heaven, by having such a reservoir made.
It emphasizes capacity-based charity and service: one should perform beneficial works like digging wells “according to one’s ability,” making welfare accessible to all levels of means.