Shloka 7
The Greatness of the Gaṇḍakī River and the Śālagrāma Stone
नृपो गच्छन्ददर्शाग्रे नदीं पापप्रणाशिनीम् । चक्रांकितग्रावयुतां मुनिमानस निर्मलाम्
nṛpo gacchandadarśāgre nadīṃ pāpapraṇāśinīm | cakrāṃkitagrāvayutāṃ munimānasa nirmalām
Als der König weiterzog, erblickte er vor sich einen Fluss, der Sünde vernichtet, geschmückt mit Steinen, die das Zeichen des Cakra tragen, und rein wie der Geist der Weisen, der Munis.
Narrator (Purāṇic narration; specific speaker not explicit in this verse)
Concept: Tīrtha is recognized by its power to cleanse pāpa and by Vaiṣṇava signs (cakra); true purity mirrors the mind of sages—outer and inner sanctity correspond.
Application: Seek environments that elevate the mind; treat sacred symbols as reminders to practice restraint and remembrance; cultivate ‘muni-manas’ purity through daily meditation and ethical living.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: river
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The king halts at a sudden bend where a clear river flashes like polished crystal. Along the shore, smooth stones gleam with natural cakra-like markings; the water seems to carry a quiet sanctity, as if the minds of sages have taken liquid form.","primary_figures":["the king (nṛpa)","river personified (optional goddess form)","sages (distant/nearby, implied by purity comparison)"],"setting":"Riverbank with rounded boulders bearing discus motifs, shallow transparent water, reeds, and a small ghat; distant hermitage silhouettes.","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["crystal blue","riverstone gray","leaf green","sunlit gold","white jasmine"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: the king at a jeweled river ghat pointing toward cakra-marked stones; a subtle river-deity with a gold halo rises from the waters; Viṣṇu’s cakra motif repeated in decorative borders; gold leaf highlights on water ripples and stone markings, rich reds/greens in royal attire.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: transparent river with meticulously painted pebbles showing delicate cakra patterns; the king and attendants in soft colors; sages’ hermitage in the distance; cool palette with lyrical naturalism and fine linework.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized river waves with repeated cakra emblems on stones; the king in profile with attendants; bold outlines, flat yet vibrant color fields, temple-wall composition with symbolic clarity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: river scene framed by lotus borders; cakra motifs patterned across stones like sacred stamps; peacocks and cranes at the edges; deep indigo and gold accents, intricate floral filigree, devotional symbolism emphasized."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["flowing water","bird calls","wind through reeds","soft conch (very distant)","footsteps on pebbles"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गच्छन्ददर्शाग्रे = गच्छन् + ददर्श + अग्रे; पापप्रणाशिनीम् = पाप-प्रणाशिनीम्; चक्रांकितग्रावयुताम् = चक्र-अंकित-ग्राव-युताम्; मुनिमानसम् = मुनि-मानसम्.
FAQs
It portrays the river as a sin-destroying sacred ford (tīrtha), emphasizing that mere sight/approach to such a river is spiritually purifying.
The cakra is a primary Vaiṣṇava emblem (associated with Viṣṇu’s Sudarśana). Cakra-marked stones suggest a landscape imbued with Vaiṣṇava sanctity and divine presence.
The verse elevates inner purity (like a sage’s mind) as the ideal; sacred places are praised as mirrors or aids to cultivate that same clarity and freedom from sin.