Shloka 19
The Greatness of Viṣṇu’s Foot-Water (Pādodaka) as a Destroyer of Sin
चित्रगुप्त उवाच । आकर्णय चास्य पापं पुण्यं नास्त्यणुमात्रकम् । वासरेऽपि हरेर्नित्यमकरोद्भोजनं विभो
citragupta uvāca | ākarṇaya cāsya pāpaṃ puṇyaṃ nāstyaṇumātrakam | vāsare'pi harernityamakarodbhojanaṃ vibho
ചിത്രഗുപ്തൻ പറഞ്ഞു—“ഇവന്റെ പാപവും കേൾക്കുക; അവനിൽ അണുമാത്രം പോലും പുണ്യമില്ല. ഹരിയുടെ പവിത്ര വ്രതദിവസത്തിലും, ഓ വിഭോ, അവൻ നിത്യമായി ഭക്ഷണം കഴിച്ചു.”
Citragupta
Concept: Deliberate eating on Hari’s sacred fast-day destroys merit and becomes a defining sin when done habitually.
Application: Keep a weekly/fortnightly discipline: observe Ekādaśī or Hari-vāsara with fasting suited to capacity, increased japa, and sattvic restraint; avoid rationalizing repeated lapses.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In Yama’s vast hall, Citragupta stands with a luminous ledger, reading aloud the man’s record: a stark line showing repeated eating on Hari’s sacred day. Yama listens from a dark throne, while the accused appears small, his aura dim, surrounded by silent, watchful attendants.","primary_figures":["Citragupta","Yama","the accused brāhmaṇa","Yamadūtas","scribal attendants"],"setting":"A cosmic judgment hall with pillars carved with dharma symbols, scrolls, and time-wheels; a balance scale motif behind Citragupta.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance focused on the ledger amid surrounding gloom","color_palette":["midnight blue","smoky violet","antique gold","ink black","pale parchment"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Citragupta reading a golden-edged karmic ledger before Yama; heavy gold leaf on throne arch and halo details, rich reds/greens, jewel-like ornaments, symmetrical court composition, the accused shown with subdued tones to indicate loss of merit.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: refined court scene with delicate faces; Citragupta in cool blues holding a scroll, Yama in darker hues; intricate architectural backdrop with subtle dharma motifs, soft gradients, restrained drama conveyed through posture and gaze.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, stylized eyes; Citragupta with palm-leaf manuscript, Yama with buffalo emblem; flat yet powerful composition, red/yellow/green palette, rhythmic ornamentation on pillars and borders.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: allegorical pichwai—central ledger framed by lotus borders; Hari-vāsara symbolized by a small Viṣṇu emblem above, while dark motifs (withered lotuses) surround the accused; deep indigo cloth, gold highlights, intricate floral filigree."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["courtly silence","scroll unfurling","distant bell","low drone"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: cāsya = ca + asya; nāstyaṇumātrakam = na + asti + aṇumātrakam (asti + aṇu → astyaṇu); vāsare'pi = vāsare + api; harernityamakarot = hareḥ + nityam + akarot (visarga sandhi: hareḥ + nityam → harer nityam).
FAQs
Citragupta is traditionally the divine record-keeper associated with Yama’s court, recounting a person’s deeds (pāpa and puṇya) to assess moral and karmic accountability.
It refers to a day sacred to Viṣṇu (Hari), commonly associated with devotional observances such as fasting or dietary restraint; the verse highlights violating that discipline.
It stresses integrity in religious practice: knowingly breaking a sacred-day observance is portrayed as a serious lapse, and habitual disregard for vows is framed as accumulating demerit.