Shloka 117
Tīrtha-Māhātmya Sequence: Sacred Fords, Baths, Gifts, and Śrāddha
Narmadā-Belt Itinerary
अंधोनमूले दत्वा तु पिंडं चैव यथाविधि । पितरस्तस्य तृप्यंति यावच्चंद्र दिवाकरौ
aṃdhonamūle datvā tu piṃḍaṃ caiva yathāvidhi | pitarastasya tṛpyaṃti yāvaccaṃdra divākarau
അന്ധോനമൂല വൃക്ഷത്തിന്റെ വേരിൽ വിധിപൂർവ്വം പിണ്ഡം അർപ്പിച്ചാൽ, ചന്ദ്രനും സൂര്യനും നിലനിൽക്കുന്നത്ര കാലം അവന്റെ പിതൃകൾ തൃപ്തരായിരിക്കും।
Unspecified (narrative voice within Svarga-khaṇḍa; likely within a Pulastya–Bhīṣma dialogue context, but not inferable from this single verse alone)
Concept: Śrāddha performed at the correct sacred locus with proper vidhi yields enduring benefit to the ancestors—depicted as cosmic-duration satisfaction.
Application: Maintain gratitude to forebears through periodic remembrance, charity, and feeding; when performing rites, prioritize correctness, humility, and a sanctified place (even a home altar can be treated as a ‘tīrtha’ through cleanliness and devotion).
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At the base of an ancient, gnarled tree marked as Andhonamūla, a devotee kneels on kusa grass, placing round piṇḍas with careful hand-gestures while incense curls upward. Above, faint ancestral forms appear like moonlit mist, receiving the offering; the sun and moon are symbolically painted in the sky to suggest ‘as long as they endure.’","primary_figures":["a śrāddha performer (yajamāna)","a priest guiding the vidhi","Pitṛs as ethereal figures","symbolic Sun and Moon"],"setting":"sacred grove within a tīrtha precinct; tree-root altar with darbha, water pot, and offering plates","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["banyan-bark brown","leaf emerald","incense silver","rice-white","sun-gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: monumental sacred tree with stylized roots, yajamāna offering piṇḍas on leaf plates, priest with palm-leaf manual; gold leaf highlights on the Sun and Moon medallions in the sky, ornate borders, rich crimson and green garments, gem-like detailing on ritual vessels.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate grove scene with delicate foliage, soft shadows, refined facial expressions; the Pitṛs appear as translucent pale forms; a lyrical sky with small sun and moon discs, cool greens and warm earth tones balanced.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: decorative sacred tree with patterned leaves, bold outlines; ritual implements simplified into iconic shapes; Pitṛs rendered as pale ochre silhouettes; strong red/yellow/green palette with temple-wall symmetry.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central sacred tree framed by lotus and floral borders; sun and moon as ornate roundels; peacocks at the base; intricate textile patterns on garments; deep indigo background with gold and white highlights for the ancestral realm."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["birds in a grove","soft bell","incense crackle","whispered mantras","distant river hush"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चैव = च एव; यावच्चंद्र = यावत् चन्द्र; (चन्द्र दिवाकरौ) अर्थतः ‘चन्द्र-दिवाकरौ’ इति द्वन्द्व-द्विवचन-भावः
FAQs
It teaches that properly performed piṇḍa-dāna (ancestral offering) at the specified sacred spot brings enduring satisfaction to one’s ancestors.
The Moon and Sun serve as a poetic measure of vast duration—indicating that the merit and the ancestors’ satisfaction are described as lasting for an extremely long time.
It emphasizes gratitude and duty toward one’s lineage: honoring ancestors through prescribed rites is presented as a sustained act of responsibility and remembrance.