Shloka 53
The Account of Women
Householder Ethics, Fault, Merit, and Govinda-Nāma as Purification
कृत्वा च पूजयित्वा च स पापात्सन्तरो भवेत् । भागीरथी तटे रम्ये खगस्य ग्रहणे शिवे
kṛtvā ca pūjayitvā ca sa pāpātsantaro bhavet | bhāgīrathī taṭe ramye khagasya grahaṇe śive
Nachdem er dies vollzogen und die gebührende Verehrung dargebracht hat, wird er zu einem, der jenseits der Sünde hinübergelangt—am lieblichen Ufer der Bhāgīrathī (Gaṅgā), zur glückverheißenden Zeit der Verfinsterung des Khaga (der Sonne).
Unspecified (context-dependent; verse appears as part of a narrated instruction in Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa)
Concept: Tīrtha-sevā and timely worship (kāla-viśeṣa) enable crossing beyond sin.
Application: Choose a regular sacred practice (japa, dāna, snāna, pūjā) and intensify it on spiritually charged days; treat rivers/temples as spaces for inner cleansing, not tourism.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: river
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"On a serene Gaṅgā bank, pilgrims complete a simple pūjā—lamp, flowers, and water-offering—while the sky darkens in a solar eclipse. The river glows with an otherworldly sheen, as if carrying away invisible burdens; distant bells and conch calls ripple through the hush.","primary_figures":["devotee performing pūjā","Gaṅgā-devī (subtle presence)","Vishnu (visionary aura or symbol on the horizon)"],"setting":"Sandy riverbank with stone ghāṭ steps, tulasī pots near a small shrine, distant temple spire, slow-flowing sacred water","lighting_mood":"eclipse-dimmed divine radiance","color_palette":["smoky indigo","river-silver","lamp-flame amber","saffron cloth","lotus pink"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Gaṅgā riverbank ghāṭ during a solar eclipse, a devotee offering ārati and flowers, small shrine with Viṣṇu symbols, Gaṅgā-devī suggested in the waves; heavy gold leaf halo effects around lamp and shrine, rich crimson and emerald textiles, gem-studded ornaments, ornate arch framing the scene, intricate floral borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: quiet Bhāgīrathī bank with delicate ripples, eclipse-shadowed sky, a lone devotee with brass lamp and flower plate, distant temple and trees; fine brushwork, cool blues and greys, lyrical naturalism, refined faces, soft Himalayan foothill silhouettes.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized Gaṅgā ghāṭ with bold black outlines, eclipse disc overhead, devotee in profile offering lamp, Gaṅgā personified as a serene goddess emerging from waves; natural pigments, temple-wall aesthetic, large expressive eyes, dominant reds/yellows/greens with deep blue river band.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Gaṅgā bank transformed into a devotional tableau with lotus motifs and floral borders, central lamp-offering, peacocks near the water, subtle Viṣṇu presence as śaṅkha-cakra emblems in the sky; deep indigo background, gold highlights, intricate patterned textiles and lotuses."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["flowing water","temple bells","conch shell","soft crowd murmur","eclipse hush/silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पापात्सन्तरो = पापात् + सन्तरः (त् + स); भवेन्नृपः not in this verse; other words mostly unsandhied.
FAQs
It highlights the Bhāgīrathī (Gaṅgā) riverbank as a prime tīrtha-location where religious acts are said to yield heightened spiritual fruit.
By pairing “doing” a prescribed act with “worshipping” (pūjā), the verse frames liberation from sin not only as ritual performance but as reverential devotion expressed through worship.
It teaches intentional, timely sacred action: performing meritorious rites and worship—especially in holy places and auspicious times—supports moral purification and turning away from sinful conduct.