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Shloka 54

मातङ्ग–शक्रसंवादः

Mataṅga–Śakra Dialogue on Tapas, Status, and Moral Qualities

जाह्नववीपुलिनोत्थाभि: सिकताभि: समुक्षितम्‌ । आत्मानं मन्यते लोको दिविषछ्ठमिव शोभितम्‌,गंगाजीके तटसे उड़े हुए बालुका-कणोंसे अभिषिक्त हुए अपने शरीरको ज्ञानी पुरुष स्वर्गलोकमें स्थित हुआ-सा शोभासम्पन्न मानता है

jāhnavavīpulinotthābhiḥ sikatābhiḥ samukṣitam | ātmānaṃ manyate loko diviṣṭham iva śobhitam ||

Sprinkled with the sand that rises from the broad banks of the Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā), a person comes to regard his own body as if it were beautified like one dwelling in heaven.

जाह्नववीपुलिनोत्थाभिःby (the sands) arisen from the banks of the Jahnavi (Ganga)
जाह्नववीपुलिनोत्थाभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootजाह्नवी-वीपुलिन-उत्था
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Plural
सिकताभिःwith sands, by sand-grains
सिकताभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootसिकता
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Plural
समुक्षितम्sprinkled/anointed
समुक्षितम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसम् + उक्ष्
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
आत्मानम्oneself, his own body
आत्मानम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootआत्मन्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
मन्यतेthinks/considers
मन्यते:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootमन् (मन्यते)
FormPresent, 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada
लोकःa person/people (here: a man)
लोकः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootलोक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
दिविष्ठम्standing in heaven, heavenly
दिविष्ठम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootदिवि-स्थ
FormMasculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular
इवas if, like
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
शोभितम्adorned, splendid
शोभितम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootशुभ्/शोभ् (शोभित)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular

सिद्ध उवाच

S
Siddha (speaker)
J
Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā)
S
sand (sikatā)

Educational Q&A

The verse cautions that mere external association with sacred things (like Gaṅgā’s sands) can create a false sense of spiritual elevation; true purity and worth come from inner knowledge, restraint, and conduct rather than outward signs.

A Siddha describes a worldly tendency: when someone’s body is dusted or sprinkled with sand from the Gaṅgā’s banks, he imagines himself splendid—almost as if he were in heaven—highlighting how easily people mistake external marks for genuine spiritual attainment.