Shloka 9
Determination of the Householder’s Dharma
Dāna: Types, Recipients, Timing, and Fruits
दानधर्मं निषेवेत पात्रमासाद्य शक्तितः । उपास्यते तु तत्पात्रं यत्तारयति सर्वतः
dānadharmaṃ niṣeveta pātramāsādya śaktitaḥ | upāsyate tu tatpātraṃ yattārayati sarvataḥ
اہلِ پاتر کو پا کر، اپنی استطاعت کے مطابق دان دھرم کا عمل کرنا چاہیے۔ بے شک وہی پاتر قابلِ تعظیم ہے جو ہر طرف سے (لوگوں کو) پار لگا دے۔
Unspecified (narrative instruction within the Svarga-khaṇḍa context; commonly transmitted within the Pulastya–Bhīṣma dialogue frame in Padma Purāṇa recensions).
Concept: Charity must be practiced with discernment: find a worthy recipient and give according to capacity; the worthy recipient is one who ‘delivers’ others—spiritually elevates them.
Application: Choose recipients who genuinely reduce suffering and cultivate virtue; budget giving sustainably; honor teachers/saints and effective service institutions rather than impulsive or exploitative channels.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A traveler at a crossroads meets various potential recipients—some greedy, some indifferent, and one luminous sage/saint whose presence calms the air. The donor offers within his means, while a symbolic boat appears behind the worthy recipient, hinting at ‘tārayati’—the power to carry others across the ocean of existence.","primary_figures":["a discerning donor","a worthy saint/teacher (pātra)","unworthy petitioners (apātra figures)"],"setting":"Crossroads near a wayside shrine with a small dharma-stambha, banyan tree, and distant river-like horizon symbolizing saṃsāra.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["warm ochre","river blue","banyan green","ash gray","sunlit gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: donor at center offering coins/grain; the pātra-saint with radiant halo and a small boat motif in gold leaf; apātra figures in muted tones; ornate border, rich reds/greens, gold leaf highlighting the saint and dharma-stambha.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: narrative tableau at a crossroads under a banyan; delicate expressions distinguishing worthy/unworthy; a poetic river-horizon and tiny boat symbol; cool blues and greens with soft sunrise wash.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized figures with bold outlines; saint rendered with luminous yellow aura; apātra figures simplified; symbolic boat and ocean-wave band at the bottom border; temple mural composition.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central saint framed by lotus and wave motifs; donor offering; border medallions showing ‘śakti-mātra’ (measured handfuls of grain) and ‘pātra’ symbols; deep blue background with gold and floral intricacy."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["footsteps on earth","banyan leaves rustle","small hand bell at shrine","distant flowing water"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पात्रमासाद्य → पात्रम् आसाद्य; तत्पात्रं → तत्-पात्रम्; यत्तारयति → यत् तारयति.
FAQs
It teaches that charity should be practiced as dharma, given to a worthy recipient (pātra), and proportionate to one’s means (śaktitaḥ).
A recipient is ‘pātra’ when they are capable of benefiting others—described as one who ‘delivers’ or uplifts people in every respect (yat tārayati sarvataḥ), such as a truly virtuous or spiritually elevating person.
It emphasizes discernment and responsibility in giving: generosity should be sincere, within one’s capacity, and directed toward recipients whose character and actions lead to the welfare and upliftment of others.