Shloka 39

Determination of the Householder’s Dharma

Dāna: Types, Recipients, Timing, and Fruits

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मवर्चसकामस्तु ब्रह्माणं ज्ञानकामुकः । आरोग्यकामोथ रविं धनकामो हुताशनम्

Transliteration

brahmavarcasakāmastu brahmāṇaṃ jñānakāmukaḥ | ārogyakāmotha raviṃ dhanakāmo hutāśanam

Translation

Ai mong ánh huy hoàng thiêng liêng (brahma-varcas) hãy thờ phụng Brahmā; ai cầu tri thức cũng hãy thờ phụng Brahmā. Ai cầu sức khỏe hãy thờ Ravi (Mặt Trời); và ai cầu tài lộc hãy thờ Hutāśana (Agni).

Word by Word

• brahma-varcasa-kāmaḥ: one desiring brahmic radiance
• brahma-varcasa-kāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahma (प्रातिपदिक) + varcasa (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (brahma-varcasaḥ kāmaḥ = 'desirer of brahmic splendor')

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), निपात (particle) = contrast/emphasis

• brahmāṇam: Brahmā
• brahmāṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक; here Brahmā as proper noun)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• jñāna-kāmukaḥ: one eager for knowledge
• jñāna-kāmukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition to previous kāmaḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + kāmuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (jñānasya kāmukaḥ = 'one eager for knowledge')

• ārogya-kāmaḥ: one desiring health
• ārogya-kāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārogya (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• atha: and/then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), निपात (particle) = 'and/then'

• ravim: Ravi (the Sun)
• ravim: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ravi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• dhana-kāmaḥ: one desiring wealth
• dhana-kāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhana (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• hutāśanam: Hutāśana (Agni, fire)
• hutāśanam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hutāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Unspecified (context not provided; verse states an instructional rule on worship for desired aims).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: kāmaḥ + tu → kāmastu; kāmaḥ + atha → kāmotha.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Ravi (Sūrya)
• Hutāśana (Agni)

FAQs

What practice does this verse prescribe for gaining brahmavarcas (spiritual lustre)?

It associates brahmavarcas (spiritual radiance/holy prestige) with worship directed to Brahmā.

Why is Ravi (the Sun) linked with health in this verse?

Ravi (Sūrya) is traditionally connected with vitality and bodily well-being; the verse reflects that classical association by recommending Sun-worship for those seeking health.

What is the ethical lesson implied by mapping desires to specific deities?

It frames desires as disciplined aims pursued through prescribed devotional order (niyama), implying that seeking outcomes should be aligned with reverent, structured worship rather than impulsive action.