Shloka 22
Pitṛ-tīrtha Context: Marks of Sin, Śrāddha Discipline, and Karmic Ripening
in Yayāti’s Narrative
न ददेच्छ्राद्धकर्ता यो गोहत्यादि समं भवेत् । द्वावेतौ पूजयेत्तस्माच्छ्रद्धया नृपसत्तम
na dadecchrāddhakartā yo gohatyādi samaṃ bhavet | dvāvetau pūjayettasmācchraddhayā nṛpasattama
اے بہترین بادشاہ! جو شرادھ کرنے والا واجب دان نہ دے وہ گوہتیا وغیرہ جیسے گناہ کے برابر ہو جاتا ہے۔ اس لیے عقیدت کے ساتھ ان دونوں کی تعظیم کرے۔
Unspecified (addressing a king: nṛpasattama)
Concept: In śrāddha, withholding the due dāna/offering nullifies the rite and incurs grave pāpa; faith must culminate in actual giving.
Application: When you undertake a duty—ritual, charity, or promise—complete it with integrity; even small, sincere giving is better than performative ritual without generosity.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: dharma
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A solemn śrāddha pavilion is set with kuśa grass, sesame, and water vessels; a king kneels with folded hands as a sage points to an empty offering plate, warning of the karmic peril of withholding. In the background, shadowy forms of pitṛs hover expectantly while a faint, ominous aura suggests the gravity of neglected dāna.","primary_figures":["a dharma-teacher sage","a king (nṛpasattama)","brāhmaṇa recipients","pitṛs (ancestral spirits)"],"setting":"Ritual courtyard beside a small sacred fire altar, with śrāddha implements (piṇḍa, tila, pātra, kuśa) arranged in order.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["smoke gray","saffron ochre","deep maroon","pale ash white","muted gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a king in jeweled crown kneels before a seated sage near a śrāddha altar with kuśa grass and sesame bowls; pitṛs appear as faint halos above, rendered with gold leaf radiance; rich reds and greens in textiles, gem-studded ornaments, ornate arch framing the ritual scene, traditional South Indian iconographic symmetry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: an intimate courtyard śrāddha scene with delicate brushwork; the sage gestures toward the offering plate while the king looks contrite; translucent pitṛ figures float near a banyan; cool earthy palette, refined faces, fine textile patterns, lyrical naturalism with a quiet moral tension.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and natural pigments; the sage and king in profile near a small homa-kunda and śrāddha vessels; stylized pitṛ forms in the upper register; dominant reds, yellows, and greens with characteristic large eyes and temple-wall compositional bands.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: a devotional dharma tableau where the śrāddha altar is framed by lotus borders and hanging garlands; brāhmaṇas seated in a row receiving dāna; peacocks and floral motifs fill the margins; deep indigo background with gold detailing, intricate textile patterns and symmetrical ornamentation."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["low temple bells","soft conch shell","crackling fire","hushed assembly","brief silence after the warning"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ददेच्छ्राद्धकर्ता = ददेत् + श्राद्धकर्ता; द्वावेतौ = द्वौ + एतौ; पूजयेत्तस्मात् = पूजयेत् + तस्मात्; तस्माच्छ्रद्धया = तस्मात् + श्रद्धया.
FAQs
It teaches that withholding the proper gift/fee during śrāddha is a serious moral failure, equated here with major sins, and urges honoring the relevant recipients with faith.
The verse refers to “two” recipients, but without surrounding verses the identity is unclear; commonly in śrāddha contexts, such pairs can indicate the brāhmaṇa(s) and the intended recipients (pitṛs) or two designated officiants. The exact referent requires the immediate textual context.
Ritual action is not merely formal—its integrity depends on generosity and sincerity. Performing rites while refusing proper giving is condemned as hypocritical and harmful.