Shloka 12
The Glory of Gayā and the Pilgrimage Circuit of Allied Tīrthas
ब्राह्मणेन भवेच्चीर्णं व्रतं द्वादशवार्षिकम् । इतरेषां तु वर्णानां सर्वपापं प्रणश्यति
brāhmaṇena bhaveccīrṇaṃ vrataṃ dvādaśavārṣikam | itareṣāṃ tu varṇānāṃ sarvapāpaṃ praṇaśyati
ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ ഈ വ്രതം പന്ത്രണ്ടു വർഷം വിധിപൂർവ്വം അനുഷ്ഠിക്കണം; എന്നാൽ മറ്റു വർണക്കാർക്ക് ഇതിലൂടെ സർവ്വപാപങ്ങളും നശിക്കുന്നു.
Unspecified (narrative instruction within Svarga-khaṇḍa dialogue context)
Concept: Vrata-observance, calibrated by adhikāra (eligibility), destroys sin and accrues long-term merit.
Application: Adopt a sustainable vow (daily japa, ekādaśī discipline, satya/ahiṃsā restraints) with consistency over time; measure success by steadiness rather than intensity.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A serene hermitage courtyard where a brāhmaṇa maintains a long vow—counting years on a palm-leaf calendar—while householders of other varṇas approach with humility, seeking purification. In the background, a Viṣṇu shrine with a lotus motif suggests that all vrata-fruit ultimately flows toward Nārāyaṇa’s grace.","primary_figures":["a brāhmaṇa-vratika (vow-keeper)","devotees from other varṇas","Viṣṇu (as shrine icon or subtle presence)"],"setting":"forest āśrama with a small temple alcove, tulasī planter near the doorway, ritual vessels arranged neatly","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["sandalwood beige","lamp-flame amber","deep indigo","leaf green","gold leaf"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a central Viṣṇu shrine with lotus-navel symbolism, gold leaf halo and ornate arch; in the foreground a brāhmaṇa performing vrata-sankalpa with palm-leaf manuscript and kamandalu, devotees offering flowers; rich reds and greens, gem-studded ornaments, intricate gold embossing on the shrine and borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a quiet āśrama scene with delicate brushwork—slender figures seated on woven mats, a small Viṣṇu icon under a flowering tree, distant hills and a pale sky; cool natural palette with refined facial features and lyrical stillness.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and natural pigments—brāhmaṇa in white with sacred thread, ritual vessels, a stylized Viṣṇu panel with large expressive eyes; red/yellow/green dominance, temple-wall aesthetic with patterned borders.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: a devotional courtyard with lotus borders and floral creepers; a small Viṣṇu/Śālagrāma altar framed by tulasī leaves, attendants offering garlands; deep blues and gold accents, intricate textile-like detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["temple bells","soft conch shell","evening silence","gentle wind through leaves"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भवेत् + चीर्णम् → भवेच्चीर्णम् (त् + च् = च्च्). श्लोके ‘भवेच्चीर्णं’ इत्यत्र संधिविच्छेदः ‘भवेत् चीर्णम्’।
FAQs
It highlights a specific vrata (religious vow) and states that its prescribed duration is twelve years for a Brāhmaṇa.
It states that for the other varṇas, the vow results in the destruction of all sins (sarva-pāpa-nāśa).
It conveys the Purāṇic theme that disciplined religious observance (vrata) functions as a means of purification and moral-spiritual renewal.