Shloka 35
The Greatness of Śukla Tīrtha: Bathing, Fasting, Charity, and Śiva Worship
अनाथं दुर्गतं विप्रं नाथवंतमथापि वा । उद्वाहयति यस्तीर्थे तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु
anāthaṃ durgataṃ vipraṃ nāthavaṃtamathāpi vā | udvāhayati yastīrthe tasya puṇyaphalaṃ śṛṇu
اس شخص کے ثواب کا پھل سنو جو تیرتھ پر کسی برہمن کا بیاہ کراتا ہے—خواہ وہ بے سہارا اور مفلس ہو یا محافظوں والا ہی کیوں نہ ہو۔
Unspecified in the provided excerpt (context needed from surrounding verses to confirm the dialogue frame, e.g., Pulastya–Bhīṣma).
Concept: Supporting life-cycle rites for the needy—especially arranging a brāhmaṇa’s marriage—at a sacred place yields great merit.
Application: Sponsor essential rites (education, healthcare, weddings) for those in hardship; do it discreetly and with respect, treating it as service rather than patronage.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"On a tīrtha ghat beside a small shrine, a modest wedding is arranged for a struggling brāhmaṇa family. The sponsor offers garments and ornaments, while the couple circles a sacred fire; pilgrims pause respectfully, sensing the tīrtha’s blessing settling like a white, auspicious veil over the rite.","primary_figures":["brāhmaṇa groom","brāhmaṇa bride","sponsor (dātā)","officiating priest"],"setting":"Sacred ford with a yajña-kuṇḍa, garlands, simple canopy, and nearby shrine; river steps with onlookers","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["ivory white","marigold orange","sandalwood beige","river blue","vermillion red"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: tīrtha-side wedding with sacred fire at center; sponsor presenting gifts; ornate gold leaf on ritual vessels, jewelry, and shrine arch; rich reds and greens, embossed textures, traditional South Indian wedding iconography with symmetrical composition.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate riverside saṃskāra under a light canopy; delicate brushwork on garments and garlands; soft dawn sky, gentle river flow, refined faces, subtle emotion of relief and dignity; cool palette with warm marigold accents.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines around the fire altar, stylized river steps, rhythmic garland patterns; figures in profile with characteristic eyes; earthy reds/yellows/greens, temple-wall narrative clarity emphasizing dharma.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ornate floral borders and lotus motifs framing a sacred-fire wedding at a ghat; symmetrical lamps and kalashas; deep blues and gold with intricate textile patterns, devotional ambience suggesting tīrtha blessing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["mantra chanting","crackling fire","river flow","soft bells"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नाथवंतमथापि = नाथवन्तम् + अथ + अपि; यस्तीर्थे = यः + तीर्थे
FAQs
The verse praises arranging (or facilitating) the marriage of a Brahmin, especially when done at a sacred tirtha, presenting it as a highly meritorious deed.
It broadens the scope of the merit: the act is commended whether the beneficiary is destitute and unsupported or even already supported—emphasizing the intrinsic religious value of the act.
Supporting socially and ritually significant life duties (like marriage) is presented as a form of dharmic assistance; doing so in a sacred setting is portrayed as especially fruitful in spiritual merit.