Shloka 87
अश्वमेधसहस्रस्य सम्यगिष्टस्य यत्फलम् । स्नात एव तदाप्नोति श्राद्धं कृत्वा च मानवः
aśvamedhasahasrasya samyagiṣṭasya yatphalam | snāta eva tadāpnoti śrāddhaṃ kṛtvā ca mānavaḥ
ശരിയായി അനുഷ്ഠിച്ച ആയിരം അശ്വമേധയാഗങ്ങളുടെ ഫലം ഏതോ, അതേ ഫലം മനുഷ്യൻ വെറും സ്നാനം ചെയ്ത് ശ്രാദ്ധം ചെയ്താൽ ലഭിക്കുന്നു.
Unspecified (context-dependent within Svargakhaṇḍa 27)
Concept: Purāṇic dharma democratizes spiritual attainment: tīrtha-snāna and śrāddha can equal the merit of grand śrauta yajñas when done properly.
Application: If elaborate rites are impossible, perform sincere, rule-following śrāddha and tīrtha-snāna; prioritize purity, charity, and remembrance over display.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"On the steps of a sacred sarovar, a humble householder completes śrāddha offerings after bathing; above him, a visionary overlay shows a thousand Aśvamedha altars dissolving into a single radiant ripple of water. The scene conveys that immense sacrificial merit has been gathered into one accessible act performed with faith.","primary_figures":["householder (śrāddha-kartā)","brāhmaṇa officiant","symbolic Aśvamedha horse (visionary motif)","pitṛ presences (subtle)"],"setting":"Tīrtha ghat beside a lotus lake; offering trays with piṇḍa, tila, and water; distant banners and small shrines.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["radiant gold","pearl white","river blue","vermillion","smoky violet"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central ghat scene with the performer and priest; a luminous gold-leaf aura rising from the water forming miniature sacrificial altars and a symbolic white horse; ornate vessels and textiles; heavy gold embellishment on ripples and halos, rich reds and greens framing the composition.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: poetic juxtaposition of simple bath and vast sacrifice—tiny detailed yajña-vedīs floating like mirages above the lake; soft gradients, refined faces, delicate lotuses; cool blues with warm gold accents.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: iconic rendering of the Aśvamedha horse as a symbolic panel above the bathing figure; bold outlines, flat yet powerful color fields; concentric halo-ripples in yellow and red over dark blue water.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symmetrical lake mandala; border filled with miniature yajña motifs and horses; central ritual platform with offerings; deep indigo background with gold and vermillion detailing, intricate floral and lotus borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"celebratory","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["conch shell","temple bells","water splashes","soft chanting of mantras"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यत्फलम् = यत् फलम्; तदाप्नोति = तत् आप्नोति; सम्यगिष्टस्य = सम्यक् इष्टस्य।
FAQs
It teaches that the combined act of ritual bathing (snāna) and performing Śrāddha can yield merit equal to that of a thousand correctly performed Aśvamedha sacrifices.
The comparison elevates the religious and ethical importance of honoring ancestors through Śrāddha, presenting it as a highly efficacious practice accessible beyond large-scale royal sacrifices.
It implies that reverence, gratitude, and responsibility toward one’s ancestors—expressed through Śrāddha—are central virtues, and that sincere, disciplined rites can outweigh displays of costly ritual power.