Shloka 17
The Greatness of the Gaṇḍakī River and the Śālagrāma Stone
शिलां संपूजयेद्यस्तु नित्यं चक्रयुतां नरः । न जातु स जनन्या वै जठरं समुपाविशेत्
śilāṃ saṃpūjayedyastu nityaṃ cakrayutāṃ naraḥ | na jātu sa jananyā vai jaṭharaṃ samupāviśet
Ein Mensch, der täglich einen heiligen Stein verehrt, der das Zeichen des Cakra (Chakra) trägt, wird niemals wieder in den Schoß seiner Mutter eingehen.
Unspecified (narrative instruction within Pātālakhaṇḍa; commonly framed in the Purāṇic dialogue tradition, but not identifiable from the single verse alone)
Concept: Nitya-pūjā (daily worship) of cakra-marked Śālagrāma grants release from saṁsāra (no re-entry into the womb).
Application: Establish a small, consistent daily worship routine (even brief) with sincerity; let regularity refine character and reduce reactive living.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Inside a simple household shrine, a devotee offers water, flowers, and incense to a small dark Śālagrāma stone bearing a bright spiral cakra-mark. The room is lamp-lit and calm; the stone seems to hold a quiet universe, and the devotee’s steady hands convey lifelong commitment.","primary_figures":["devotee/householder","Śālagrāma-śilā with cakra mark"],"setting":"Home altar with brass lamp, conch, small bell, flower plate, and a clean cloth; faint river imagery painted on the wall as remembrance of the source-tirtha.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["lamp-flame amber","brass gold","basalt black","marigold orange","sandalwood cream"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: domestic sanctum with a pedestal Śālagrāma, devotee in añjali offering tulasi-like garland motifs (even if not explicit), gold leaf on lamp flames and halo around the stone, rich textile patterns, ornate border, traditional South Indian shrine aesthetics.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate interior with soft lamplight; devotee seated cross-legged before a small altar; delicate rendering of the spiral mark; warm browns and creams with subtle reds; refined calm expressions and minimalistic elegance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized shrine scene with bold outlines; prominent lamp and ritual vessels; Śālagrāma shown with clear spiral; symmetrical composition, earthy pigments, devotional stillness.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central altar with Śālagrāma on a lotus pedestal; ornate floral borders and repeated cakra motifs; deep indigo background with gold highlights; peacocks and lotuses framing the domestic devotion as cosmic worship."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["single temple bell","soft conch","incense crackle (subtle)","silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: संपूजयेद्यस्तु → सम्पूजयेत् + यः + तु (t + y → dy).
FAQs
It refers to a sacred stone revered in Vaiṣṇava practice—classically understood as a śālagrāma-śilā—bearing natural markings associated with Viṣṇu’s chakra.
It presents steady daily worship (nitya-pūjā) of a Viṣṇu-associated sacred form as spiritually transformative, promising release from rebirth through devotional practice.
The verse encourages consistent, disciplined devotion—regular worship done with reverence—framing it as a means to overcome saṃsāra (the cycle of repeated birth).