Shloka 91
Kurukṣetra and Sarasvatī Tīrthas: Pilgrimage Itinerary and the Sanctification of Rāma-hrada
Paraśurāma’s Lakes
स्नातो वै नियताहारः सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते । ततो व्यासस्थली नाम यत्र व्यासेन धीमता
snāto vai niyatāhāraḥ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate | tato vyāsasthalī nāma yatra vyāsena dhīmatā
Wahrlich, wer gebadet hat und in der Nahrung maßvoll ist, wird von allen Sünden befreit. Dann gibt es einen Ort namens Vyāsasthalī, wo der weise Vyāsa einst weilte oder wirkte.
Unspecified (narrative voice within the Svarga-khaṇḍa dialogue context)
Concept: Purification is not merely contact with sacred water but a synergy of snāna and self-restraint, culminating in pāpa-kṣaya.
Application: Pair cleansing rituals (bath, prayer, temple visit) with a concrete restraint (diet moderation, truthfulness, reduced indulgence) to make purification transformative.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At Vyāsasthalī, a calm stone-lined pool reflects a sky washed clean after dawn. A pilgrim emerges from the water with folded hands, while on a nearby rock sits Vyāsa—aged, radiant, and contemplative—holding palm-leaf manuscripts; the air feels lighter, as if invisible burdens have dissolved.","primary_figures":["a pilgrim","sage Vyāsa"],"setting":"A quiet tīrtha pool with ghāṭ steps, a manuscript-bearing sage’s seat, nearby tulāsi-less but leafy āśrama vegetation, and a small shrine marker naming ‘Vyāsasthalī’.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["dawn rose","pale gold","river teal","stone ash","sage green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Vyāsasthalī pool with gold leaf shimmer on water and halos; Vyāsa seated with manuscripts under an ornate arch-like tree canopy, pilgrim in añjali after snāna; rich reds/greens, gem-studded manuscript box, traditional iconographic symmetry and decorative borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: tranquil ghāṭ and pool with delicate ripples, soft dawn gradients; Vyāsa as a serene sage with refined features, pilgrim modestly dressed, minimal architecture, lyrical trees and distant hills; subtle emphasis on calm and purification.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, stylized pool and steps, Vyāsa with characteristic mural facial proportions and large eyes, manuscripts emphasized; strong red/yellow/green palette with teal water field, ornamental borders of waves and leaves.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central pool framed by floral borders; Vyāsa seated in a medallion-like pavilion, pilgrim at the water’s edge; lotus motifs and symmetrical arrangements, deep blues/greens with gold highlights, intricate textile detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["gentle water dripping","morning birds","soft bell","expansive silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: No major external sandhi beyond standard euphony; sarvapāpaiḥ treated as compound; vyāsasthalī as place-name compound.
FAQs
The verse states that bathing (snāna) combined with regulated diet/self-restraint (niyatāhāra) frees a person from all sins.
It names a sacred place called Vyāsasthalī, associated with the sage Vyāsa—presented as a noteworthy tirtha/location in the chapter’s sequence.
Purification is linked not only to ritual bathing but also to disciplined conduct—especially restraint in food—showing that inner regulation supports outer rites.