Shloka 159
Karma, Non-Violence, Tīrtha & Gaṅgā Merit, Vaiṣṇava Protection, Śālagrāma Worship, and Ekādaśī as Deliverance
सुकलत्रप्रदा ह्येषा जीवत्पुत्रप्रदायिनी । न गंगा न गया वैश्य न काशी न च पुष्करम्
sukalatrapradā hyeṣā jīvatputrapradāyinī | na gaṃgā na gayā vaiśya na kāśī na ca puṣkaram
Diese Observanz schenkt wahrlich einen guten Ehepartner und verleiht lebende Söhne. O Vaiśya, weder die Gaṅgā noch Gayā, noch Kāśī, noch selbst Puṣkara ist ihr gleich.
Unspecified (context-dependent within Svarga-khaṇḍa 31; verse addresses a Vaiśya)
Concept: Hari’s observance can surpass even the greatest tīrthas in granting auspicious worldly and spiritual outcomes.
Application: Prioritize a disciplined sacred day (fasting, worship, charity, restraint) even if pilgrimage is not possible; treat vrata as a portable tīrtha.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A humble Vaiśya kneels before a radiant Viṣṇu shrine as four famed tīrthas appear like distant, misty visions—Gaṅgā’s flowing steps, Gayā’s śrāddha-ghāṭa, Kāśī’s lamp-lit ghats, and Puṣkara’s lotus lake—each bowing in symbolic submission to the sanctity of Hari’s day. Above, a celestial scroll of light proclaims the vrata’s boons: harmonious marriage and living sons, framed by lotus motifs and conch-shell emblems.","primary_figures":["Viṣṇu (Hari)","a Vaiśya devotee","personified Gaṅgā (optional)","tīrtha-deities/guardians (optional)"],"setting":"Temple threshold with a small altar; visionary panorama of Gaṅgā-ghāṭa, Gayā, Kāśī, and Puṣkara in the background like sacred vignettes.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit with divine radiance","color_palette":["sapphire blue","lotus pink","gold leaf","turmeric yellow","river-silver"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Viṣṇu enthroned in a small sanctum with gold-leaf arch, conch and discus prominent; a Vaiśya devotee offering a lamp and flowers; four miniature vignettes around the border—Gaṅgā ghats, Gayā śrāddha scene, Kāśī lamp-lit steps, Puṣkara lotus lake—rendered as subordinate halos; rich reds and greens, gem-studded ornaments, embossed gold for the sanctum and lotus motifs.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a lyrical temple courtyard at dusk; the devotee in simple attire gazes toward a glowing Viṣṇu icon; distant landscape panels show Gaṅgā, Gayā, Kāśī, Puṣkara as soft watercolor-like scenes; delicate brushwork, refined faces, cool shadows with warm lamp glow, subtle floral borders.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold-outlined Viṣṇu with large expressive eyes, yellow garments, and ornate crown; the devotee at the lower register; stylized river and tīrtha emblems in side medallions; natural pigment palette with dominant reds/yellows/greens, temple-wall aesthetic, symmetrical composition.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central Viṣṇu/Hari emblem with lotus and conch motifs; border filled with miniature tīrtha icons (Gaṅgā waves, Kāśī dīpas, Puṣkara lotus, Gayā piṇḍa offerings) arranged as a garland; deep blues and gold, intricate floral borders, devotional symmetry."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"celebratory","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["temple bells","conch shell","soft mridanga pulse","murmur of pilgrims","lamp crackle"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ह्येषा = हि + एषा
FAQs
It asserts that a particular religious observance (vrata/rite) yields greater fruit—granting a good spouse and long-lived sons—than even those renowned tīrthas.
They represent widely revered centers of purification and merit in Hindu sacred geography; listing them emphasizes the extraordinary efficacy attributed here to the praised observance.
It highlights that disciplined practice and vowed observance can be valued as highly as (or even more than) pilgrimage, encouraging consistent dharmic conduct rather than relying only on travel to holy places.