Shloka 67
Annadāna and the Obstruction of Viṣṇu-Darśana; Vāmadeva’s Teaching and the Vāsudeva Stotra Prelude
पूर्वेपि च महात्मानो दिवं प्राप्ताः स्वकर्मणा । पुनः प्रयाता भूर्लोकं कर्मणः क्षयकालतः
pūrvepi ca mahātmāno divaṃ prāptāḥ svakarmaṇā | punaḥ prayātā bhūrlokaṃ karmaṇaḥ kṣayakālataḥ
മുമ്പും മഹാത്മാക്കൾ സ്വന്തം കർമ്മബലത്തിൽ സ്വർഗ്ഗം പ്രാപിച്ചു; എന്നാൽ ആ കർമ്മപുണ്യം ക്ഷയിച്ചപ്പോൾ അവർ വീണ്ടും ഭൂലോകത്തിലേക്ക് മടങ്ങി വന്നു।
Unknown (verse provided without surrounding dialogue context)
Concept: Heaven attained by karma is temporary; when puṇya is spent, one returns to earth—therefore seek liberation-oriented devotion and wisdom.
Application: Do good deeds, but don’t make heaven the goal; cultivate daily nāma-japa, pūjā, and selfless service aiming at God-realization.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Great souls rise on luminous paths to Indra’s jeweled Svarga, welcomed by apsarās and celestial music; yet beneath the splendor, a sand-timer of merit runs out. The same figures descend again toward Bhūrloka, their faces calm but awakened to the truth that only the imperishable path frees one from return.","primary_figures":["great souls (mahātmānaḥ)","Indra (optional)","apsarās and gandharvas (optional)","a sage narrator (optional)"],"setting":"two-tier cosmic panorama: Svarga’s jeweled court above, Bhūrloka’s forests and cities below, connected by a radiant stair/path","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["celestial sapphire","pearl white","gold leaf","amethyst purple","emerald green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: split-register cosmic scene—upper Svarga with Indra’s throne, apsarās, gandharvas, jeweled arches; lower Bhūrloka with earthy tones; a golden merit-timer motif; heavy gold leaf on celestial architecture, rich reds/greens, gem-studded ornaments, ornate borders emphasizing impermanence of svarga.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical two-world composition with delicate clouds and mountain horizons; Svarga painted in cool luminous blues and whites, Bhūrloka in soft greens and browns; subtle narrative of ascent and descent with refined faces and gentle melancholy.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines—Svarga court above with stylized figures, Bhūrloka below; a central vertical path; flat pigments in red/yellow/green with blue accents, temple-wall didactic symbolism of return when puṇya ends.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: cosmic pichwai with lotus borders; upper panel celestial dancers and musicians, lower panel earthly devotees; a central Vishnu emblem suggesting akṣaya refuge; deep blue ground with gold floral filigree, peacocks and lotuses framing the ascent/descent narrative."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft conch in distance","celestial chimes","tanpura drone","wind-like hush between lines"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pūrvepi = pūrve api; svakarmaṇā = sva-karmaṇā; bhūrlokam = bhūḥ-lokam; kṣayakālataḥ = kṣaya-kālataḥ.
FAQs
It teaches that heaven is a temporary result of accumulated merit; when that merit is exhausted (karma-kṣaya), one returns to the human realm.
No. It calls them “mahātmānaḥ” (great souls) but still states that heavenly enjoyment depends on finite karmic merit and therefore ends.
It emphasizes the impermanence of karmic rewards and encourages aiming beyond temporary heavenly results by cultivating enduring spiritual realization and right conduct.