Shloka 58
The Greatness of Hari’s Janmāṣṭamī (Jayantī) Vow
श्रुत्वा पापानि नश्यंति कुर्यात्किं वा भविष्यति । य इदं कुरुते मर्त्यो या च नारी हरेर्व्रतम्
śrutvā pāpāni naśyaṃti kuryātkiṃ vā bhaviṣyati | ya idaṃ kurute martyo yā ca nārī harervratam
Schon durch das bloße Hören vergehen die Sünden — was wird erst geschehen, wenn man es vollzieht? Welcher sterbliche Mann, und auch welche Frau, die dieses Gelübde Haris (Viṣṇus) auf sich nimmt…
Unspecified (context-dependent narrator within Brahma-khaṇḍa dialogue)
Concept: Śravaṇa (hearing) itself destroys sins; actual performance of Hari’s vrata yields even greater, immeasurable merit for both men and women.
Application: Adopt a daily practice of hearing/reading a small portion of Hari-kathā; on festival days, add vrata discipline to deepen transformation.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sage-like narrator addresses a seated king in a quiet hall, palm-leaf manuscript open, as luminous syllables seem to rise from the recitation and dissolve into the air like cleansing light. Behind them, a small shrine of Hari glows, suggesting that even hearing the vow’s kathā washes away darkness, while the promise extends equally to men and women.","primary_figures":["Purāṇic narrator/sage","King (rājan)","Viṣṇu/Hari (shrine icon or subtle divine presence)","Attendant listeners (men and women, optional)"],"setting":"Royal assembly hall or hermitage pavilion with manuscript stand, oil lamps, and a small Viṣṇu shrine","lighting_mood":"golden dawn transitioning to serene lamp-glow","color_palette":["warm gold","sandalwood beige","deep blue","white jasmine","copper brown"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: narrator-sage reciting to a king, Hari’s shrine icon with gold-leaf halo in the background; rich reds/greens, ornate pillars, manuscript details; symbolic golden script-like motifs floating upward to represent pāpa-kṣaya through śravaṇa.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate discourse scene with delicate facial expressions; soft dawn light, pale architecture, refined textiles; subtle luminous swirls above the manuscript indicating the purifying power of hearing; inclusion of women listeners at the edge to emphasize universality.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: formal teaching tableau, bold outlines; sage and king in profile, stylized manuscript; Hari icon behind with radiant aura; warm red/yellow/green palette, temple-wall composition emphasizing phala-śruti authority.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central Hari shrine with devotees listening in semicircle; lotus borders and floral vines; deep blue ground with gold highlights; small medallions showing Janmāṣṭamī symbols (cradle, conch, chakra) and a manuscript motif for śravaṇa."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["tanpura drone","soft temple bells","page rustle (palm leaf)","gentle silence","distant conch"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुर्यात्किं → कुर्यात् + किम्; हरेर्व्रतम् → हरेः + व्रतम्.
FAQs
It teaches that śravaṇa (hearing sacred instruction) itself destroys sin, and implies that actually performing Hari’s vow yields even greater spiritual benefit.
Yes. It explicitly mentions both a mortal man (martyaḥ) and a woman (nārī) as eligible to undertake the vow of Hari.
By highlighting hearing and vow-observance centered on Hari, it frames devotion (bhakti) as accessible and purifying through both listening to sacred teachings and disciplined religious practice.