Shloka 13
Viṣṇu as the Embodied Purāṇas and the Merit of Hearing the Svarga-khaṇḍa
यथा पापात्प्रमुच्येत तथा हि श्रवणाद्भवेत् । दत्ता तेन स्वर्णतुला दत्ता चैव धराखिला
yathā pāpātpramucyeta tathā hi śravaṇādbhavet | dattā tena svarṇatulā dattā caiva dharākhilā
罪より解き放たれるように、まことに（この物語を）聞くことによってその果が生ずる。彼によって、黄金を量って施したのと等しく、実に全大地を施したのと同じであった。
Unspecified narrator (context-dependent within Svarga-khaṇḍa dialogue frame)
Concept: Hearing sacred narrative functions as prāyaścitta and as a superlative merit-act, equated with the greatest gifts.
Application: Use attentive listening as a daily purification practice; pair it with tangible charity within one’s means, remembering inner sincerity outweighs scale.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A scale of gold (tulā) gleams on one side, while on the other side a scroll of sacred narration radiates brighter than metal—showing śravaṇa outweighing even mahā-dāna. Behind, the earth itself appears as a jeweled globe offered in the mind, dissolving into a stream of light that rises toward a serene Vishnu-form in the sky.","primary_figures":["a devotee-listener","a sage-narrator","Vishnu (in the upper sky)","personified Dāna-devī (optional)"],"setting":"A ritual courtyard with a golden balance scale, heaps of coins, and a symbolic globe/earth-offering; a quiet audience seated in semicircle; subtle celestial backdrop.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["molten gold","lapis lazuli","ivory","crimson","emerald green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central golden tulā (balance) with ornate carvings; the sacred manuscript emits a halo larger than the gold; Vishnu above in a lotus aureole; heavy gold leaf on scale, halos, and borders; rich maroon-green textiles; gem-like highlights on ornaments.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate courtyard scene with a delicate gold scale; the listener’s face softened by wonder; the ‘earth-gift’ shown as a small painted globe in the devotee’s hands; cool blues and warm gold accents; refined linework and gentle shading.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized balance scale and globe motifs; bold outlines; Vishnu’s circular prabhā dominating the upper panel; saturated reds/yellows/greens; patterned floor and borders with lotus and conch motifs.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic composition—two mandalas, one of gold coins and one of sacred sound-lotus; the sound-mandala larger; ornate floral border with lotuses and peacocks; deep blue ground with gold detailing; subtle Vishnu emblem (śaṅkha-cakra) in the center."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["single conch accent","temple bells swelling then fading","tanpura drone","brief silence after the claim"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पापात्प्रमुच्येत = पापात् + प्रमुच्येत; श्रवणाद्भवेत् = श्रवणात् + भवेत्; चैव = च + एव; धराखिला = धरा + अखिला.
FAQs
Śravaṇa (devout hearing/listening) is praised as a means to become freed from sin, highlighting the purifying power of listening to sacred narration.
Svarṇa-tulā refers to a gift measured by weight in gold (a major form of dāna). The verse says the merit from hearing is comparable to such an immense donation.
It teaches that inner engagement with dharma—such as reverent listening—can generate vast merit, sometimes spoken of as equal to extraordinary external gifts like donating gold or even the whole earth.