Shloka 9
Within the Greatness of Guru-tīrtha: The Episode of Nahuṣa and Aśokasundarī
in the Cyavana account
गच्छंत्यपि मनस्तापमेनं दृष्ट्वा महामतिम् । पापमेवं परित्यज्य सत्यमेवं प्रधावति
gacchaṃtyapi manastāpamenaṃ dṛṣṭvā mahāmatim | pāpamevaṃ parityajya satyamevaṃ pradhāvati
حتى الذين كانوا منصرفين، إذا رأوا هذا الحكيم العظيم الهمة، سكن لهيب أذهانهم؛ وهكذا يتركون الخطيئة ويسعون مسرعين إلى الحق.
Unknown (context not provided; likely within a Purāṇic dialogue narration)
Concept: Satsaṅga/darśana of a great-souled person dissolves inner suffering and turns the mind from pāpa toward satya.
Application: Seek daily contact with truthful, devotional company; when distressed, shift attention from rumination to service, prayer, and honest speech; treat ‘truth’ as a direction you can run toward through small acts.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A weary traveler, shoulders bowed under invisible grief, pauses on a dusty path as a radiant mahātmā appears beneath a spreading aśvattha. The traveler’s face softens; dark, smoky tendrils of ‘pāpa’ dissolve into the air while a clear, luminous road labeled ‘satya’ opens ahead like a river of light.","primary_figures":["mahātmā (Vaiṣṇava sage)","distressed traveler(s)","subtle attendants (gandharvas or unseen devas)"],"setting":"forest-edge pilgrimage road with a simple hermitage, tulasi planter near the hut, and a distant river glinting through trees","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["saffron ochre","lotus pink","sapphire blue","leaf green","golden white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a serene Vaiṣṇava mahātmā seated on a low wooden āsana beneath an aśvattha, right hand in abhaya, tulasi pot beside him; travelers approach with folded hands as dark clouds of sorrow lift; heavy gold leaf halo, rich vermilion background, emerald greens, gem-studded ornaments on a small Viṣṇu emblem on the sage’s chest, ornate floral borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate sage under a tree on a hillside path, soft washes of green and blue, travelers’ expressions shifting from anguish to calm; a thin ribbon of river in the distance, lyrical naturalism, refined faces, subtle gold highlights on the ‘satya’ path.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined mahātmā with large expressive eyes, tulasi plant prominent, stylized forest and hermitage; warm red and yellow ground with green foliage; the traveler’s dark aura painted as fading black-grey curls, replaced by bright white-gold rays of satya.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central tulasi and a small Viṣṇu shrine motif behind the sage; lotus borders, peacocks perched on branches, devotees approaching in procession; deep indigo background with gold detailing, floral vines framing the ‘truthward’ movement."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","gentle flowing water","distant birds","low conch drone","silence between pādas"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गच्छंत्यपि = गच्छन्ति + अपि; मनस्तापमेनम् = मनस्तापम् + एनम्; पापमेवं = पापम् + एवम्; सत्यमेवं = सत्यम् + एवम्.
FAQs
The verse teaches that the mere sight of a truly wise and noble person can relieve inner distress and inspire a moral turn—abandoning sin and moving toward truth.
It reflects the Purāṇic theme that contact with the virtuous—here, even just seeing a “mahāmati”—has transformative power, redirecting a person from pāpa (wrongdoing) to satya (truth).
Seek the presence of the wise and cultivate truthfulness; such association helps reduce mental turmoil and strengthens the resolve to abandon harmful actions.