Shloka 58
The Account and Merit of Śivadūtī
with the Nāga-tīrtha at Puṣkara
यतोऽस्यामेव सुतिथौ नागानां कार्यमुद्धृतम् । एतस्यां सर्वतो यस्तु कट्वम्लं परिवर्जयेत्
yato'syāmeva sutithau nāgānāṃ kāryamuddhṛtam | etasyāṃ sarvato yastu kaṭvamlaṃ parivarjayet
Because on this very auspicious lunar day the duty and rite concerning the Nāgas was established and brought forth, therefore on this occasion whoever observes it should wholly abstain from pungent and sour foods.
Unspecified (contextual narrator/speaker not provided in the input excerpt)
Concept: Vrata is safeguarded by dietary purity; renunciation of certain tastes supports ritual efficacy and sattva.
Application: On sacred days, simplify food: avoid overly stimulating tastes (pungent/sour), keep speech and conduct restrained, and treat diet as part of worship rather than indulgence.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A quiet dawn in a small shrine courtyard where a devotee prepares a simple, unspiced offering while a coiled Nāga emblem rests beneath a stone canopy. The scene emphasizes restraint: plain grains, clear water, and a calendar leaf marking the auspicious tithi, with the devotee’s hands folded in reverence.","primary_figures":["vratī (devotee)","Nāga symbol/deity (serpent icon)"],"setting":"Temple courtyard with a Nāga-sthāna (serpent shrine), ritual vessels, and a modest food-preparation area kept intentionally plain.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["sandalwood beige","copper bronze","leaf green","smoke gray","soft saffron"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a serene South Indian courtyard Nāga-sthāna with a stylized serpent icon under an ornate arch, the vratī offering plain naivedya; gold leaf haloing the shrine, rich vermilion and emerald borders, gem-studded ornaments on the arch, intricate floral motifs emphasizing purity and restraint.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a gentle dawn scene with delicate linework—devotee seated near a small serpent shrine, simple bowls of plain food, a handwritten tithi note; cool pastel greens and ochres, lyrical trees and distant hills, refined facial features and quiet devotional posture.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and natural pigments—Nāga icon beneath a temple canopy, devotee with folded hands, ritual pot and lamp; dominant reds, yellows, and greens with stylized eyes and symmetrical composition conveying vrata-niyama.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: a devotional courtyard framed by lotus and creeper borders; central Nāga shrine with floral garlands, attendants preparing simple offerings; deep indigo background with gold detailing, intricate patterns suggesting sacred timing and disciplined worship."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["temple bells (distant)","soft conch shell","morning birds","gentle silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: yato'syām = yataḥ + asyām (visarga sandhi); kāryamuddhṛtam = kāryam + uddhṛtam; yastu = yaḥ + tu; kaṭvamlaṃ = kaṭu + amlam (compound/phonetic contraction).
FAQs
It links a Nāga-related observance to a specific auspicious tithi and prescribes dietary restraint—avoiding pungent and sour foods on that day.
Nāgas are serpent beings/serpent-deities who appear in Purāṇic literature as powerful, semi-divine entities connected with subterranean realms, waters, protection, and ritual propitiation.
The verse highlights discipline and purity of conduct during sacred observances: honoring a rite is not only ritual action but also self-restraint, especially in food.