Shloka 110
Merit of Causeways and Crossings, Temple Construction Rewards, and the Rudrākṣa Mahātmya
द्विजा ऊचुः । सामान्येकः परः पुण्यो मर्त्यलोके द्विजोत्तम । सुलभो मर्त्यपूज्यस्तु मुनीनां च तपस्विनाम्
dvijā ūcuḥ | sāmānyekaḥ paraḥ puṇyo martyaloke dvijottama | sulabho martyapūjyastu munīnāṃ ca tapasvinām
Para dvija berkata: “Wahai yang terbaik di antara yang dua kali lahir, di dunia fana ini ada satu sarana yang paling suci dan luhur, yang berlaku umum bagi semua. Ia mudah dicapai, dan dihormati oleh manusia, juga oleh para muni dan tapasvin.”
Dvijāḥ (the Brahmins)
Concept: There exists a single, supreme, holy, and common means in the human world—easy to obtain and honored by both household society and ascetics.
Application: Seek the ‘one practice’ you can sustain daily (regular recitation, nāma-japa, temple attendance, Ekādaśī discipline) and make it consistent rather than sporadic.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A circle of brāhmaṇas, calm and earnest, address a revered dvijottama seated on kusa grass. Their hands are folded in inquiry, and behind them the world of mortals—village, forest hermitage, and distant temple spire—appears as a single tapestry awaiting a simple, universal teaching.","primary_figures":["assembly of brāhmaṇas (Dvijāḥ)","dvijottama teacher (sage)"],"setting":"forest āśrama with sacrificial fire, kusa mats, water pot, palm-leaf texts, distant glimpse of human settlements","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["leaf green","earth brown","smoke white","ochre","sky blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: sage-teacher enthroned on a low seat with gold leaf aura, brāhmaṇas in symmetrical rows with folded hands, sacred fire and vessels, rich reds/greens, ornate borders, the ‘supreme easy means’ hinted by a glowing path motif in the background.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: serene hermitage scene with delicate foliage, refined faces of questioning brāhmaṇas, soft light filtering through trees, a small hut and riverlet, gentle palette, emphasis on humility and inquiry.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: temple-wall narrative of brāhmaṇas speaking, bold outlines, stylized trees and fire altar, red/yellow/green pigments, large expressive eyes, the teacher centered with a calm mudrā of instruction.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: circular composition like a satsang mandala, lotus borders, deep blue ground with gold, the teacher at center, brāhmaṇas as petals around, subtle Vaishnava symbols (shankha-chakra) foreshadowing the answer’s devotional nature."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["forest birds","crackling sacred fire","rustle of leaves","soft chanting undertone","silence after the question"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: द्विजाः+ऊचुः→द्विजा ऊचुः (visarga before vowel often written separately); सामान्य+एकः→सामान्येकः; मर्त्यपूज्यः+तु→मर्त्यपूज्यस्तु
FAQs
The verse states that there exists a single supreme, meritorious means in the human world that is “common” (accessible in principle to all), and it is praised as easily attainable and widely revered.
Not in this shloka alone. It functions as a lead-in statement by the Brahmins, setting up a question or forthcoming teaching about what that easily attainable, supremely holy practice is.
Holiness is not presented as restricted to rare achievements alone; the text hints that there is an accessible path of merit respected across social and spiritual spheres—by ordinary people as well as by renunciant sages.