Shloka 86
The Glory of the Devoted Wife (Pativratā) and the Māṇḍavya Curse: Sunrise Halted and Restored
य इदं श्रावयेल्लोके पुण्याख्यानमनुत्तमम् । तस्य पापं क्षयं याति जन्मजन्मकृतं च यत्
ya idaṃ śrāvayelloke puṇyākhyānamanuttamam | tasya pāpaṃ kṣayaṃ yāti janmajanmakṛtaṃ ca yat
ഈ ലോകത്തിൽ ഈ അനുത്തമ പുണ്യാഖ്യാനം ശ്രവിപ്പിക്കുന്നവന്റെ ജന്മജന്മാന്തരങ്ങളിൽ ചെയ്ത പാപങ്ങൾ എല്ലാം ക്ഷയിച്ചു നശിക്കുന്നു.
Unspecified (narrative voice within the Adhyaya; exact dialogue speaker not provided in the input)
Concept: Śravaṇa (hearing/causing to be heard) of a puṇya-ākhyāna destroys accumulated sins across many births.
Application: Read or listen to Purāṇic/Vaiṣṇava kathā daily; sponsor recitations; replace idle speech with sacred listening to reshape long-term habits and guilt patterns.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A twilight recitation hall: a learned reciter sits on a low vyāsāsana with palm-leaf manuscripts, while listeners—householders, women, and students—sit in attentive rows. As the sacred story is spoken, a subtle stream of light rises from the words like incense, dissolving dark smoke-symbols of past sins into clear space.","primary_figures":["Purāṇa reciter (paurāṇika)","Attentive listeners (śrotāraḥ)","Symbolic pāpa-smoke dissolving into light"],"setting":"Temple mandapa or village courtyard with oil lamps, tulasi pot at the edge (optional as ambience, not textual), conch and bell nearby, manuscripts and rosaries.","lighting_mood":"golden dusk","color_palette":["oil-lamp amber","manuscript tan","deep maroon","smoke gray","saffron"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: reciter with gold-leaf halo, palm-leaf manuscript in hand; listeners in symmetrical rows with folded hands; gold-leaf rays emanating from the spoken words; ornate pillars and lamp stands; rich reds/greens, gem-like border detailing, devotional iconography emphasizing sanctity of śravaṇa.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate satsang scene with delicate textiles and soft dusk sky; fine facial expressions of absorption; manuscripts rendered with precise lines; a poetic, translucent glow rising from the recitation; cool-warm balance with lyrical naturalism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines; reciter centered with stylized eyes; rhythmic rows of listeners; lamp motifs and floral borders; strong red-yellow-green palette; sacred sound visualized as patterned bands of light.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: satsang framed by ornate floral borders and lotus medallions; deep blue background with gold highlights; the spoken kathā shown as golden script-like streams; peacocks at corners; intricate patterning celebrating devotional listening."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["tanpura drone","soft hand cymbals (manjira)","temple bells at intervals","pages/palm-leaf rustle","deep silence after the final line"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śrāvayet+loke → śrāvayel loke (written śrāvayelloke); puṇya+ākhyānam → puṇyākhyānam; janmajanma+kṛtam retained as compound; yat at end correlates with yaḥ.
FAQs
It states that arranging or causing this unsurpassed sacred story to be recited leads to the destruction of sins, including those accumulated over many lifetimes.
It elevates śravaṇa/śrāvaṇa—hearing and facilitating the hearing of sacred narration—as a spiritually efficacious act that purifies karmic burden.
The verse implies that sustained moral and spiritual renewal is possible: sincere engagement with sacred teachings can counteract long-standing negative karmic habits and encourage a life oriented toward merit (puṇya).