Shloka 140
The Greatness of Puṣkara: Tripuṣkara Pilgrimage, Sacred Geography, and the Doctrine of Self-Restraint
तमसाच्छादिते लोके मृत्युनाभ्यर्दिताः प्रजाः । त्वामेव नाथमागम्य निर्वृतिं परमां गताः
tamasācchādite loke mṛtyunābhyarditāḥ prajāḥ | tvāmeva nāthamāgamya nirvṛtiṃ paramāṃ gatāḥ
Als die Welt von Finsternis verhüllt war und die Geschöpfe vom Tod bedrängt wurden, kamen sie allein zu dir als Herrn und Beschützer und erlangten den höchsten Frieden.
Unspecified (context-dependent narration within Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa)
Concept: Śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) in the Lord dissolves fear and culminates in paramā nirvṛti (supreme peace).
Application: In anxiety or grief, reduce scattered coping to a single-point refuge: daily nāma-japa, offering of fear itself in prayer, and ethical steadiness as an expression of trust.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A world drowned in primordial darkness: silhouettes of trembling beings gather at the feet of a radiant, four-armed Lord whose aura breaks the black veil like dawn. As they bow, the shadow of Death recedes into the distance, and a lotus-like calm spreads across the cosmos.","primary_figures":["Vishnu (Nārāyaṇa)","terrified prajās (beings)","personified Mṛtyu (Death)"],"setting":"Cosmic expanse at the edge of creation-night, with faint stars, swirling tamas, and a luminous lotus-throne emerging from the gloom.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["sapphire blue","ink black","lotus pink","gold leaf","pearl white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Vishnu as Jagannātha seated on a lotus throne, four arms with śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma, heavy gold leaf halo bursting through a dark tamas background; frightened prajās in folded hands at the bottom register; personified Mṛtyu fading at the edge; rich vermilion and emerald borders, gem-studded ornaments, ornate arch (prabhāmaṇḍala) with gold embossing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a lyrical cosmic night scene with deep indigo wash; delicate figures of supplicants clustered near a softly glowing Vishnu; subtle gradations of darkness turning to dawn; refined faces, thin gold lines for aura, minimalistic stars, gentle mist-like tamas receding.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and flat natural pigments; Vishnu with large expressive eyes and elaborate crown, radiant yellow-gold aura against a near-black background; prajās in simplified devotional poses; stylized lotus motifs and rhythmic cloud bands representing tamas dissolving.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central Vishnu on a lotus with concentric floral borders; tamas rendered as deep blue textile field; golden lotuses and white jasmine-like dots as stars; devotees at the lower band; intricate vine work, symmetrical composition, rich blues and gold with temple-like framing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["low temple bell","conch shell (distant)","silence between pādas","soft drone (tanpura)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तमसाच्छादिते = तमसा + आच्छादिते; मृत्युनाभ्यर्दिताः = मृत्युना + अभ्यर्दिताः; त्वामेव = त्वाम् + एव; नाथमागम्य = नाथम् + आगम्य
FAQs
The term prajāḥ broadly means living beings or subjects—creatures in the world who suffer under cosmic conditions such as darkness (tamas) and death (mṛtyu).
It highlights single-point refuge—'tvām eva' (you alone)—showing that approaching the Lord as protector leads to 'paramā nirvṛti' (supreme peace), a classic bhakti theme.
In times of fear and suffering, one should seek the highest refuge rather than despair; turning toward the divine protector is presented as the way to peace and release from distress.