Shloka 17
The Greatness of the Gaṇḍakī River and the Śālagrāma Stone
शिलां संपूजयेद्यस्तु नित्यं चक्रयुतां नरः । न जातु स जनन्या वै जठरं समुपाविशेत्
śilāṃ saṃpūjayedyastu nityaṃ cakrayutāṃ naraḥ | na jātu sa jananyā vai jaṭharaṃ samupāviśet
チャクラ（円盤）の印を備えた聖なる石を日々礼拝する人は、決して再び母の胎に入ることはない。
Unspecified (narrative instruction within Pātālakhaṇḍa; commonly framed in the Purāṇic dialogue tradition, but not identifiable from the single verse alone)
Concept: Nitya-pūjā (daily worship) of cakra-marked Śālagrāma grants release from saṁsāra (no re-entry into the womb).
Application: Establish a small, consistent daily worship routine (even brief) with sincerity; let regularity refine character and reduce reactive living.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Inside a simple household shrine, a devotee offers water, flowers, and incense to a small dark Śālagrāma stone bearing a bright spiral cakra-mark. The room is lamp-lit and calm; the stone seems to hold a quiet universe, and the devotee’s steady hands convey lifelong commitment.","primary_figures":["devotee/householder","Śālagrāma-śilā with cakra mark"],"setting":"Home altar with brass lamp, conch, small bell, flower plate, and a clean cloth; faint river imagery painted on the wall as remembrance of the source-tirtha.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["lamp-flame amber","brass gold","basalt black","marigold orange","sandalwood cream"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: domestic sanctum with a pedestal Śālagrāma, devotee in añjali offering tulasi-like garland motifs (even if not explicit), gold leaf on lamp flames and halo around the stone, rich textile patterns, ornate border, traditional South Indian shrine aesthetics.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate interior with soft lamplight; devotee seated cross-legged before a small altar; delicate rendering of the spiral mark; warm browns and creams with subtle reds; refined calm expressions and minimalistic elegance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized shrine scene with bold outlines; prominent lamp and ritual vessels; Śālagrāma shown with clear spiral; symmetrical composition, earthy pigments, devotional stillness.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central altar with Śālagrāma on a lotus pedestal; ornate floral borders and repeated cakra motifs; deep indigo background with gold highlights; peacocks and lotuses framing the domestic devotion as cosmic worship."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["single temple bell","soft conch","incense crackle (subtle)","silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: संपूजयेद्यस्तु → सम्पूजयेत् + यः + तु (t + y → dy).
FAQs
It refers to a sacred stone revered in Vaiṣṇava practice—classically understood as a śālagrāma-śilā—bearing natural markings associated with Viṣṇu’s chakra.
It presents steady daily worship (nitya-pūjā) of a Viṣṇu-associated sacred form as spiritually transformative, promising release from rebirth through devotional practice.
The verse encourages consistent, disciplined devotion—regular worship done with reverence—framing it as a means to overcome saṃsāra (the cycle of repeated birth).