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Shloka 19

Prayāga’s Supremacy Among Tīrthas: Faith, Yoga, Charity, and the Ethics of Attainment

कथं योगेन तत्प्राप्तिः स्वर्गलोकस्तु कर्मणा । तदा च लभते भोगान्गां च तत्कर्मणां फलम्

kathaṃ yogena tatprāptiḥ svargalokastu karmaṇā | tadā ca labhate bhogāngāṃ ca tatkarmaṇāṃ phalam

いかにしてそれはヨーガによって得られるのか、しかるに天界は業(行為)によって得られるという。さらにその業の果として、享楽を得、またガンガーにも至るのである。

कथम्how?
कथम्:
सम्बन्ध/प्रश्न (Interrogative relation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकथम् (अव्यय)
Formप्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)
योगेनby yoga
योगेन:
करण (Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular
तत्that
तत्:
विशेषण (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally
प्राप्तिःattainment
प्राप्तिः:
कर्ता/विषय (Subject/topic)
TypeNoun
Rootप्राप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular
स्वर्गलोकःthe heaven-world
स्वर्गलोकः:
कर्ता/विषय (Subject/topic)
TypeNoun
Rootस्वर्ग + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वर्गस्य लोकः)
तुbut/indeed
तु:
सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ
कर्मणाby action (karma)
कर्मणा:
करण (Instrument/means)
TypeNoun
Rootकर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular
तदाthen
तदा:
कालाधिकरण (Time adjunct)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतदा (अव्यय)
Formकालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)
and
:
सम्बन्ध (Connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)
लभतेobtains
लभते:
क्रिया (Verb)
TypeVerb
Rootलभ् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; Present indicative
भोगान्enjoyments
भोगान्:
कर्म (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootभोग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; Accusative plural
गाम्a cow / the earth (go)
गाम्:
कर्म (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootगो (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular
and
:
सम्बन्ध (Connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)
तत्of those
तत्:
सम्बन्ध (Genitive determiner)
TypeAdjective
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; genitive plural used as determiner with कर्मणाम् in compound-like phrase
कर्मणाम्of actions
कर्मणाम्:
सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
TypeNoun
Rootकर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; Genitive plural
फलम्fruit/result
फलम्:
कर्म (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootफल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

Unspecified (context-dependent dialogue within Svarga-khaṇḍa)

Concept: Different paths yield different attainments: yoga is framed as a means to 'that attainment,' while svarga is attained by karma; enjoyments and even access to Gaṅgā arise as karmic fruits.

Application: Do not confuse temporary rewards with ultimate good; use merits (including opportunities to visit Gaṅgā/tīrthas) to deepen devotion and discipline rather than mere enjoyment.

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Type: river

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A questioning disciple leans forward as the teacher outlines two roads: one rising as a luminous yogic path toward inner realization, the other as a stairway to a jeweled svarga court of fleeting pleasures. Below, the Gaṅgā flows like a silver ribbon, suggesting that even the chance to touch her waters is a karmic blessing meant to be transformed into liberation-seeking devotion.","primary_figures":["Teacher-sage (narrator/ācārya figure)","Yudhiṣṭhira (inquirer)","Personified Gaṅgā (subtle, river-goddess form)","Celestial beings (apsaras/devas as background symbols of svarga-bhoga)"],"setting":"Didactic tableau blending hermitage discourse with symbolic split-scene: svarga court above, Gaṅgā riverbank below","lighting_mood":"moonlit","color_palette":["silver white","sapphire blue","emerald green","amethyst purple","soft gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Split composition—left shows a serene yogic ascent with a radiant inner light, right shows a lavish svarga court with apsaras and jeweled pillars; bottom foreground features Gaṅgā as a goddess rising from silver waters; gold leaf on celestial ornaments and river highlights, rich reds/greens, ornate borders, traditional iconography with symmetrical grandeur.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: Elegant narrative split-scene with delicate architecture for svarga, soft cloud bands, and a quiet Gaṅgā riverbank with willows; the teacher and Yudhiṣṭhira sit in the foreground; cool palette, refined faces, lyrical naturalism, subtle emphasis on impermanence through fading cloud motifs around svarga.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Bold-outlined teacher instructing Yudhiṣṭhira; above, stylized svarga with devas and apsaras in bright pigments; below, Gaṅgā as a large-eyed deity emerging from patterned waves; red/yellow/green palette, temple-wall aesthetic, ornamental borders and lotus-wave motifs.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Central river Gaṅgā rendered with lotus clusters and swans; upper register shows a decorative svarga pavilion with dancers; side register shows a yogic path as a lotus-stair mandala; deep blues and gold, intricate floral borders, devotional textile detailing."}

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["flowing water","distant conch","soft cymbals (manjira)","wind through trees","celestial chime (subtle)"]}

Sandhi Resolution Notes: तत्प्राप्तिः = तत् + प्राप्तिः; स्वर्गलोकस्तु = स्वर्गलोकः + तु; भोगान्गाम् = भोगान् + गाम्; तत्कर्मणां = तत् + कर्मणाम् (orthographic sandhi).

G
Gaṅgā

FAQs

It contrasts yoga as a means to attain a higher spiritual goal, while svarga (heaven) is described as attainable through karma (ritual and meritorious actions), which yields enjoyments as its result.

The verse presents reaching/obtaining Gaṅgā as a karmic fruit—suggesting that access to sacred places or purifying encounters (like Gaṅgā) can be framed as results of accumulated merit.

It implies discernment between temporary results (bhoga and svarga as karma-phala) and a deeper attainment associated with yoga, encouraging prioritization of lasting spiritual realization over transient rewards.