Shloka 21
Glorification of Prayāga
The Gaṅgā–Yamunā Confluence
श्रवणात्तस्य तीर्थस्य नामसंकीर्तनादपि । मृत्तिका लंभनाद्वापि नरः पापात्प्रमुच्यते
śravaṇāttasya tīrthasya nāmasaṃkīrtanādapi | mṛttikā laṃbhanādvāpi naraḥ pāpātpramucyate
بمجرد سماع خبر ذلك التيرثا (tīrtha)، أو بإنشاد اسمه، أو حتى بنيل طينه المقدّس، يتحرّر الإنسان من الخطيئة.
Unspecified (narratorial voice within the Svarga-khaṇḍa dialogue context)
Concept: Remembrance and utterance of a tīrtha’s name—supported by faith—can destroy sin; sacredness transmits through sound (nāma) and contact (mṛttikā).
Application: Daily: recite ‘Prayāga’ (or any revered Viṣṇu-kṣetra) with devotion; listen to tīrtha-mahātmya; keep a small sacred token (mṛttikā) respectfully, using it to remind oneself to avoid pāpa and cultivate purity.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A humble devotee sits by a small lamp in a village home, listening as a traveling reciter narrates Prayāga’s glory; the sound seems to manifest as faint river-like ribbons of light. Nearby, a tiny earthen pot holds sacred mṛttikā from the saṅgama, and in the background a visionary glimpse shows the confluence itself, linking distant home to holy place through name and remembrance.","primary_figures":["Devotee listener","Traveling kathā-reciter (paurāṇika)","Pilgrims (visionary)"],"setting":"Two-layered scene: intimate home/ashram listening space with lamp and manuscripts, blending into a visionary Prayāga riverbank with ghats.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["warm amber","clay brown","midnight blue","river-silver","leaf green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: interior kathā scene with gold leaf lamp glow, a paurāṇika reciting from palm-leaf text, devotee with folded hands, a small pot of sacred clay; in a framed vignette behind, the Prayāga saṅgama with gold-highlighted waves and tiny pilgrims, ornate borders and rich reds/greens.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: quiet domestic devotional listening with delicate faces, soft amber lamp light, cool blue night outside; a subtle dreamlike window reveals the confluence with silver water, minimalistic elegance and lyrical mood.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined figures of reciter and listener, stylized lamp flame, manuscript and clay pot emphasized as sacred objects; background shows iconic confluence motif, strong reds/yellows/greens with ornamental borders.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central listening devotee framed by floral borders and lotus motifs, stylized sound-waves as decorative ribbons leading to a small confluence vignette, deep indigo ground with gold highlights, intricate patterning suggesting nāma-kīrtana’s power."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["soft tanpura drone","gentle bells","page rustle","distant river sound (imagined)","silence between phrases"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: श्रवणात्तस्य = श्रवणात् + तस्य; नामसंकीर्तनादपि = नाम + संकीर्तनात् + अपि; लंभनाद्वापि = लम्भनात् + वा + अपि; पापात्प्रमुच्यते = पापात् + प्रमुच्यते
FAQs
It lists three: hearing about the tīrtha, chanting its name (nāma-saṃkīrtana), and obtaining its sacred clay (mṛttikā).
It teaches that simple, accessible devotional acts—especially name-chanting—can confer purification, not only physically traveling or performing elaborate rites.
It encourages reverence for sacred places and sincere engagement (hearing, chanting, contact with sanctified substances) as supports for moral reform and inner cleansing.