Shloka 35
Praise of Devotion to Viṣṇu
The Supremacy of Hari’s Name over All Tīrthas
जिह्वां लब्ध्वापि लोकेऽस्मिन्कृष्णनामजपेन्नहि । लब्ध्वापि मुक्तिसोपानं हेलयैव च्यवंति ते
jihvāṃ labdhvāpi loke'sminkṛṣṇanāmajapennahi | labdhvāpi muktisopānaṃ helayaiva cyavaṃti te
Obwohl sie in dieser Welt eine Zunge erlangt haben, sprechen sie den Namen Kṛṣṇas nicht im Japa. Obwohl sie die Stufen zur Befreiung gefunden haben, stürzen sie hinab—allein aus bloßer Nachlässigkeit.
Not explicitly stated in the provided excerpt (context needed from Svargakhaṇḍa 50)
Concept: Human birth and speech are rare; failing to chant Kṛṣṇa-nāma is squandering the very ladder to liberation, and mere negligence causes spiritual fall.
Application: Set a non-negotiable daily minimum of nāma-japa; treat 'helā' as a habit to uproot by scheduling, accountability, and mindful pronunciation.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A symbolic staircase made of luminous syllables—'KṚṢṆA'—rises from a human tongue depicted as a lotus-petal platform. A careless figure turns away mid-step, slipping into shadow, while a vigilant devotee ascends with japa-mālā, each bead igniting a rung of light.","primary_figures":["careless seeker (helā)","devotee with japa-mālā","Kṛṣṇa (as radiant source above the staircase)"],"setting":"Allegorical inner landscape: a cosmic void with a shining nāma-stairway; faint outlines of samsāric whirlpools below.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance against deep shadow","color_palette":["midnight blue","electric gold","lotus white","amethyst purple","vermillion"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central nāma-staircase rendered with gold leaf; Kṛṣṇa’s halo at the summit with conch-chakra motifs; the devotee ascending in rich red/green garments with gem-like bead highlights; the falling figure in muted tones; ornate arch frame and lotus border.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: poetic allegory with delicate lines; a pale luminous stair of script-like syllables; cool blues and purples; refined faces showing vigilance vs negligence; minimalistic cosmic background with subtle floral motifs.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines; stylized tongue-lotus platform; bright yellow and red for the nāma-stair; Kṛṣṇa emblematic at top with large expressive eyes; strong contrast between light path and dark fall.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: the nāma syllables woven into floral-lotus patterns forming a staircase; peacocks and cows as auspicious border elements; deep blue ground with gold ornamentation; central japa-mālā motif repeated as a rhythmic design."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["sharp kartal strikes","conch shell accent","rising drone (tanpura)","sudden silence on 'helā'","echoing mantra syllables"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: लोकेऽस्मिन् = लोके + अस्मिन्; अस्मिन्कृष्ण... = अस्मिन् + कृष्ण...; जपेन्नहि = जपे + न + हि; हेलयैव = हेलया + एव.
FAQs
It implies the tongue is a precious instrument meant for divine remembrance—especially chanting Kṛṣṇa’s name—rather than being wasted on neglect or irreligious speech.
It presents nāma-japa (repetition of Kṛṣṇa’s name) as a readily available means toward liberation, and warns that indifference to it causes spiritual decline.
Do not be careless about spiritual opportunities; when the means to upliftment is available, negligence alone can lead to downfall.