Shloka 117
Tīrtha-Māhātmya Sequence: Sacred Fords, Baths, Gifts, and Śrāddha
Narmadā-Belt Itinerary
अंधोनमूले दत्वा तु पिंडं चैव यथाविधि । पितरस्तस्य तृप्यंति यावच्चंद्र दिवाकरौ
aṃdhonamūle datvā tu piṃḍaṃ caiva yathāvidhi | pitarastasya tṛpyaṃti yāvaccaṃdra divākarau
مَن قدَّمَ على الوجه المأمور قُربانَ البيṇḍa عند أصل شجرة أندهونامولا وفق الشعيرة المقرَّرة، فإن أسلافه يظلون راضين ما دامت الشمس والقمر باقيين.
Unspecified (narrative voice within Svarga-khaṇḍa; likely within a Pulastya–Bhīṣma dialogue context, but not inferable from this single verse alone)
Concept: Śrāddha performed at the correct sacred locus with proper vidhi yields enduring benefit to the ancestors—depicted as cosmic-duration satisfaction.
Application: Maintain gratitude to forebears through periodic remembrance, charity, and feeding; when performing rites, prioritize correctness, humility, and a sanctified place (even a home altar can be treated as a ‘tīrtha’ through cleanliness and devotion).
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At the base of an ancient, gnarled tree marked as Andhonamūla, a devotee kneels on kusa grass, placing round piṇḍas with careful hand-gestures while incense curls upward. Above, faint ancestral forms appear like moonlit mist, receiving the offering; the sun and moon are symbolically painted in the sky to suggest ‘as long as they endure.’","primary_figures":["a śrāddha performer (yajamāna)","a priest guiding the vidhi","Pitṛs as ethereal figures","symbolic Sun and Moon"],"setting":"sacred grove within a tīrtha precinct; tree-root altar with darbha, water pot, and offering plates","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["banyan-bark brown","leaf emerald","incense silver","rice-white","sun-gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: monumental sacred tree with stylized roots, yajamāna offering piṇḍas on leaf plates, priest with palm-leaf manual; gold leaf highlights on the Sun and Moon medallions in the sky, ornate borders, rich crimson and green garments, gem-like detailing on ritual vessels.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate grove scene with delicate foliage, soft shadows, refined facial expressions; the Pitṛs appear as translucent pale forms; a lyrical sky with small sun and moon discs, cool greens and warm earth tones balanced.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: decorative sacred tree with patterned leaves, bold outlines; ritual implements simplified into iconic shapes; Pitṛs rendered as pale ochre silhouettes; strong red/yellow/green palette with temple-wall symmetry.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central sacred tree framed by lotus and floral borders; sun and moon as ornate roundels; peacocks at the base; intricate textile patterns on garments; deep indigo background with gold and white highlights for the ancestral realm."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["birds in a grove","soft bell","incense crackle","whispered mantras","distant river hush"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चैव = च एव; यावच्चंद्र = यावत् चन्द्र; (चन्द्र दिवाकरौ) अर्थतः ‘चन्द्र-दिवाकरौ’ इति द्वन्द्व-द्विवचन-भावः
FAQs
It teaches that properly performed piṇḍa-dāna (ancestral offering) at the specified sacred spot brings enduring satisfaction to one’s ancestors.
The Moon and Sun serve as a poetic measure of vast duration—indicating that the merit and the ancestors’ satisfaction are described as lasting for an extremely long time.
It emphasizes gratitude and duty toward one’s lineage: honoring ancestors through prescribed rites is presented as a sustained act of responsibility and remembrance.