Shloka 61
Qualities of the Five Great Elements; Description of Sudarśana-dvīpa and Mount Meru
तस्य पार्श्वे महद्दिव्यं शुभ्रं कांचनवालुकम् । रम्यं विष्णुसरो नाम यत्र राजा भगीरथः
tasya pārśve mahaddivyaṃ śubhraṃ kāṃcanavālukam | ramyaṃ viṣṇusaro nāma yatra rājā bhagīrathaḥ
その傍らには、白く黄金に輝く砂をたたえた、広大で神々しく麗しい地がある。そこにヴィシュヌ・サラスと名づくる佳き湖があり、かつてバギーラタ王が留まり苦行を修した。
Unspecified in the provided excerpt (narratorial description within the Svargakhaṇḍa dialogue context).
Concept: Tapas and devotion sanctify place; sacred waters associated with Vishnu become instruments of purification and dharma-strengthening.
Application: Create ‘tīrtha’ in daily life: keep a clean worship space, bathe with mantra, remember Vishnu while offering water; persist in vows and responsibilities for the welfare of others.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Beside the jewel mountain, a vast lake gleams—Viṣṇu-saras—its shores lined with white-gold sands that sparkle like powdered sunlight. King Bhagiratha stands in austere posture at the water’s edge, hands joined, while a subtle Vishnu-presence is suggested by a radiant lotus-emblem reflected on the lake’s surface.","primary_figures":["King Bhagiratha","Vishnu (subtle theophany or symbolic presence)","celestial attendants (optional)"],"setting":"Himalayan sacred lake with luminous sands, nearby jewel mountain slopes, quiet hermitage hints","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["pearl white","champagne gold","aqua blue","lotus pink","deep indigo"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Viṣṇu-saras with gold leaf shimmering sands, Bhagiratha in tapas posture on the shore, Vishnu’s symbolic presence as a radiant lotus-disc reflection or a small four-armed form in the sky with a gold halo, rich reds/greens in borders, ornate arch framing the lake, gem-studded detailing on the nearby mountain.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: serene Himalayan lake with delicate ripples, white-golden sand rendered with fine stippling, Bhagiratha slender and composed in prayer, distant jewel mountain softly tinted, cool blues and warm golds balanced, lyrical naturalism and refined facial features.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized lake as a broad turquoise band with patterned wave motifs, bright golden shore, Bhagiratha with bold outlines and devotional gesture, Vishnu indicated with iconic attributes (śaṅkha-cakra) in a small radiant vignette, red/yellow/green pigment harmony on a temple-wall aesthetic.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central oval lake medallion labeled by motifs of Vishnu (chakra-lotus), intricate floral borders, deep blue ground with gold highlights, white-gold sand as decorative stippled band, Bhagiratha depicted in symmetrical devotional pose, lotuses floating across the water."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["flowing water","soft conch","temple bells (faint)","birds near the lake"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: महत्+दिव्यम् → महद्दिव्यं
FAQs
It locates a named sacred water-body—Viṣṇu-saras—described with distinctive features (white, golden sands) and tied to a renowned king, functioning as a textual marker for a pilgrimage landscape.
By naming the lake “Viṣṇu-saras,” the verse frames the place as Viṣṇu-associated sacred space, implying devotional merit through remembrance, visit, or worship connected with Viṣṇu and his tīrthas.
Through the mention of Bhagīratha—celebrated for perseverance and sacred purpose—the verse implicitly upholds steadiness, dedication, and righteous effort as qualities that sanctify both person and place.