Shloka 47
Tīrtha-Māhātmya of the Sarasvatī Region and the Praise of Kurukṣetra
Pilgrimage Merits
तत्र स्नात्वा नरव्याघ्र न दुर्गतिमवाप्नुयात् । फलानि गोसहस्राणां चतुर्णां विंदते च सः
tatra snātvā naravyāghra na durgatimavāpnuyāt | phalāni gosahasrāṇāṃ caturṇāṃ viṃdate ca saḥ
Dengan mandi di sana, wahai harimau di antara manusia, seseorang tidak jatuh ke dalam nasib buruk. Ia pun meraih pahala setara dengan sedekah empat ribu ekor sapi.
Unspecified (narrator/teacher addressing a listener as 'naravyāghra')
Concept: Bathing at a powerful tīrtha protects from evil destiny and grants immense merit comparable to major charity.
Application: When facing fear of decline—ethical, mental, or spiritual—seek purifying practices: pilgrimage, bathing with prayer, charity, and renewed vows.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A heroic pilgrim addressed as 'naravyāghra' steps into luminous sacred waters while shadowy forms of 'durgati' dissolve like smoke behind him. Above, an unseen Viṣṇu-presence is suggested by a faint śaṅkha-cakra aura, and a symbolic procession of cows appears as a golden merit-vision.","primary_figures":["pilgrim (naravyāghra)","personified Durgati (shadowy, dissolving)","subtle Viṣṇu aura (śaṅkha-cakra)","symbolic cows (merit-vision)"],"setting":"tīrtha-ghāṭa with a small Vaishnava shrine, banyan tree, offerings on steps","lighting_mood":"divine radiance breaking through mist","color_palette":["radiant gold","mist white","river turquoise","smoke gray","vermillion"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: pilgrim bathing at a sacred ghāṭa, with gold leaf radiance on water and a śaṅkha-cakra aura above; shadowy durgati figures dissolving at the edge; symbolic golden cows in the background as merit imagery; rich reds/greens, ornate jewelry on shrine icons, embossed gold borders with lotus motifs.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: serene ghāṭa scene with delicate ripples and mist; the pilgrim’s calm face contrasted with faint smoky silhouettes fading away; soft turquoise and pale gold palette, small Vaishnava shrine under a tree, refined detailing of offerings and steps.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, stylized waves, central bathing figure; durgati shown as dark patterned forms retreating; Viṣṇu symbols in a radiant circular motif; red/yellow/green pigments, temple-wall framing and ornamental borders.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: tīrtha scene framed by lotus borders; deep blue water with gold highlights; symbolic cows arranged in decorative procession; peacocks and floral vines on margins; subtle Vaishnava emblems (conch, discus) integrated into the border design."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["flowing water","temple bells","conch shell","soft chanting","wind through banyan leaves"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दुर्गतिमवाप्नुयात् = दुर्गतिम् + अवाप्नुयात्; गोसहस्राणां (समास) = गो + सहस्राणाम्.
FAQs
It presents tīrtha-snāna (ritual bathing at a sacred site) as a powerful purifier: it prevents ‘durgati’ (an adverse spiritual destiny) and grants substantial merit.
Go-dāna (donation of cows) is a classic benchmark for great religious merit in Purāṇic literature; the verse uses it as a familiar measure to express the magnitude of tīrtha-snāna’s spiritual ‘fruit’.
The verse encourages sincere engagement with sacred practices—especially pilgrimage and purification rites—while framing them in terms of moral consequence (avoiding durgati) and positive spiritual gain (puṇya).