Shloka 23
Exposition of the Duties of Ascetics
Saṃnyāsa-Dharma
आत्मज्ञानगुणोपेतो यदि मोक्षमवाप्नुयात् । अभ्यसेत्सततं देवं प्रणवाख्यं सनातनम्
ātmajñānaguṇopeto yadi mokṣamavāpnuyāt | abhyasetsatataṃ devaṃ praṇavākhyaṃ sanātanam
Si alguien, dotado de la virtud del conocimiento del Sí mismo, desea alcanzar la liberación, debe practicar sin cesar al Dios eterno llamado Praṇava, es decir, Oṃ.
Unspecified (narrative voice not provided in the input excerpt; commonly framed within Pulastya–Bhīṣma dialogue in Padma Purāṇa contexts)
Concept: For one seeking mokṣa with ātma-jñāna, constant abhyāsa of the eternal Deity as Praṇava (Oṃ) is prescribed.
Application: Daily Oṃ-japa or Oṃ Namo Nārāyaṇāya with steady breath; short pauses before speech to remember Praṇava and reduce reactive ego.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a vast inner-sky of meditation, the syllable Oṃ appears as luminous calligraphy, unfolding into a subtle form of Nārāyaṇa seated on a lotus of sound-waves. A yogin sits below, spine like a pillar, breath visible as gentle rings that merge into the radiance of Praṇava.","primary_figures":["meditating yogin/sādhaka","Nārāyaṇa as the deity of Praṇava (subtle visionary form)"],"setting":"interior meditation space that blends into a cosmic soundscape—no walls, only concentric ripples of mantra","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["sapphire blue","white-gold","amethyst violet","lotus pink","smoky indigo"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central glowing ‘Oṃ’ rendered with gold leaf, transforming into Nārāyaṇa with conch and discus, seated on a lotus; yogin below in composed posture, ornate gold borders, gem-like highlights on the deity’s ornaments, rich reds and greens framing the cosmic blue field.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: ethereal scene with delicate gradients, a fine-lined Oṃ floating above a serene yogin, Nārāyaṇa emerging softly from the syllable, cool blues and violets, refined facial features, minimal landscape—only lyrical clouds of sound.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines of Oṃ as a sacred emblem, Nārāyaṇa with characteristic large eyes and stylized ornaments, rhythmic wave patterns for mantra ripples, warm yellow and red accents against deep blue, temple-wall compositional symmetry.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ornate circular mandala of mantra-ripples, central Oṃ medallion with Nārāyaṇa, lotus motifs and floral borders, deep blue ground with gold detailing, peacocks at corners, intricate white linework suggesting sound vibrations."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["tanpura drone","single bell strike at start","long Oṃ resonance","silence between repetitions"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: आत्मज्ञानगुणोपेतो → आत्म-ज्ञान-गुण-उपेतः; मोक्षमवाप्नुयात् → मोक्षम् अवाप्नुयात्; अभ्यसेत्सततं → अभ्यसेत् सततम्; प्रणवाख्यं → प्रणव-आख्यम्
FAQs
It recommends constant abhyāsa—steady practice or meditation—on the eternal Praṇava (Oṃ), presented here as the divine reality to be contemplated.
The verse links liberation to a mind endowed with ātmajñāna and directs such a seeker to continual contemplation of Oṃ, implying Oṃ as a support (ālambana) for realizing or stabilizing Self-knowledge.
Consistency and inner discipline: liberation is not framed as a one-time act, but as sustained practice grounded in Self-knowledge and focused contemplation.