Varaha Purana 189.20: Adhyaya 189, Shloka 20
Section on the Origin and Procedure of Piṇḍa-Rites (Funerary Offerings) and Donor–Recipient Purification
दद्याद्दानानि विप्राय स वै तारयितुं क्षमः ॥ कुण्डगोलेषु यद्दत्तं निष्फलं तत्तु जायते ॥
dadyād dānāni viprāya sa vai tārayituṁ kṣamaḥ || kuṇḍa-goleṣu yad dattaṁ niṣphalaṁ tat tu jāyate ||
พึงถวายทานแก่ท่านวิปร (พราหมณ์) เพราะท่านย่อมสามารถนำพาให้พ้นได้จริง แต่ทานที่ให้แก่ผู้เป็นกุณฑะหรือโกล ย่อมกลายเป็นไร้ผล
Varāha (default speaker per dialogue framework)
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"earth_interaction":"Varāha warns Bhū-devī about proper recipients of dāna and the futility of gifts to unqualified persons."}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"attentive, concerned about correct merit-making","key_question":"To whom should gifts be given so that they truly ‘deliver’ and do not become fruitless?"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"dana","instruction_summary":"Give dāna to a qualified brāhmaṇa who can confer deliverance; gifts to a ‘kuṇḍa’ or ‘gola’ are niṣphala (fruitless).","karmic_consequence":"Proper dāna yields salvific merit; misdirected dāna yields no fruit and may contribute to demerit (expanded in 189.23-24)."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"ethics of giving (intention + recipient fitness)","core_concept":"Dāna is not merely transfer of wealth; its spiritual efficacy depends on pātratā (worthiness) and dharmic alignment.","practical_application":"Investigate recipient’s conduct and eligibility before giving; prioritize learned, non-violent, disciplined brāhmaṇas for ritual-linked gifts."}
Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Ritual Practice","Gift Economy (Dāna)"]
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: bībhatsa
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 189.21 (qualities of the worthy brāhmaṇa); Varāha Purāṇa 189.23-24 (harm from kuṇḍa/gola in śrāddha and rites)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Varāha points toward a worthy brāhmaṇa as the proper recipient while indicating rejection of unqualified figures labeled kuṇḍa/gola, emphasizing ‘fruitless’ giving.","item_prompts":["Varāha instructing","worthy brāhmaṇa receiving gifts","donor holding water-pot/coins/cloth","shadowed/turned-away unqualified recipients","scale motif suggesting ‘fruitful vs fruitless’"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: strong narrative contrast—brightly colored worthy brāhmaṇa, muted tones for rejected figures; Varāha’s teaching gesture central.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-leaf aura around Varāha and worthy brāhmaṇa; dāna items (cloth, gold) stylized; rejected figures placed at margin.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: elegant courtly dāna scene; subtle moral contrast through posture and facial expression; Varāha calm but firm.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: compact storytelling—two groups separated by a tree/stream; Varāha guiding donor toward the worthy recipient."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"admonitory yet composed","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"firm, articulate"}
FAQs
It preserves technical classifications of qualified vs. unqualified recipients, a theme shared with Dharmaśāstra literature, highlighting how donation was regulated by social-ritual criteria.
No geographic location is identified; the focus is on recipient categories.
Direct giving toward qualified recipients; the verse frames the ethical efficacy of dāna as dependent on the recipient’s status/qualification.
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