Shloka 17
Praise of Devotion to Viṣṇu
The Supremacy of Hari’s Name over All Tīrthas
किं पुनस्तस्य पापानामाशंका मुनिपुंगवाः । तीर्थानां च परं तीर्थं कृष्णनाम महर्षयः
kiṃ punastasya pāpānāmāśaṃkā munipuṃgavāḥ | tīrthānāṃ ca paraṃ tīrthaṃ kṛṣṇanāma maharṣayaḥ
ഹേ മുനിപുങ്ഗവന്മാരേ! പിന്നെ അവന്റെ പാപങ്ങളെക്കുറിച്ച് ആശങ്ക എന്ത്? ഹേ മഹർഷിമാരേ! കൃഷ്ണനാമം തന്നെയാണ് എല്ലാ തീർത്ഥങ്ങളെയും അതിക്രമിക്കുന്ന പരമതീർത്ഥം.
Unspecified narrator/speaker addressing sages (munipuṅgavāḥ, maharṣayaḥ) within the Svarga-khaṇḍa discourse
Concept: Kṛṣṇa-nāma is the supreme pilgrimage; it annihilates fear of sin and renders external tīrtha-dependence secondary.
Application: When travel or elaborate rites are impossible, take refuge in steady nāma-japa/kīrtana; treat the tongue and mind as the primary pilgrimage-route; let fear-based religiosity transform into trust in grace.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vast map-like panorama of India’s famed tīrthas fades into the background—river confluences, ghāṭas, and temples rendered like distant jewels—while in the foreground a single devotee chants ‘Kṛṣṇa’ with unwavering focus. From the syllables emerges a radiant lotus-path that outshines every pilgrimage route, proclaiming the Name itself as the supreme tīrtha.","primary_figures":["devotee chanting Kṛṣṇa-nāma","personified Nāma as radiant script/halo (conceptual)","distant silhouettes of pilgrims at various tīrthas"],"setting":"Symbolic sacred geography: layered vignettes of ghāṭas and temples dissolving into a central luminous space around the chanter.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["electric gold","midnight blue","confluence white","lotus magenta","turquoise"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: foreground devotee with gold leaf aura; the word ‘कृष्ण’ stylized as radiant calligraphy in gold, forming a lotus mandala; miniature temple and river vignettes in the background like jeweled panels; heavy gold embossing, rich reds/greens, gem-studded borders emphasizing ‘parama-tīrtha’ supremacy.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: poetic composition with distant tīrtha vignettes (Prayāga-like confluence, Kāśī ghāṭa, forest hermitage) softly painted; central devotee in calm intensity; luminous script-like glow around the mouth/heart; cool blues and gentle pinks with refined detailing.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: iconic central figure chanting, surrounded by concentric decorative bands representing tīrthas; bold outlines, patterned rivers, lotus medallions; dominant reds/yellows/greens with striking gold-like highlights; stylized ‘कृष्ण’ as a radiant emblem above.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central deep-blue field with golden ‘कृष्ण’ nāma as the main motif; surrounding border panels depict stylized tīrthas with lotuses, peacocks, and temple spires; intricate floral borders and symmetrical layout; shimmering gold accents to show the Name surpassing all pilgrimage sites."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["conch shell","temple bells","group hum of japa","brief silence between repetitions"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पुनस्तस्य = पुनः + तस्य; पापानामाशङ्का = पापानाम् + आशङ्का; (IAST munipuṃgavāḥ) मुनिपुङ्गवाः; कृष्णनाम = कृष्ण + नाम (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष).
FAQs
It elevates Kṛṣṇa’s name above all physical pilgrimage sites, presenting nāma (the divine name) as the highest purifier and spiritual crossing-place.
By declaring Kṛṣṇa-nāma the supreme tīrtha, it centers devotion and remembrance (nāma-japa/kīrtana) as a direct, accessible spiritual practice.
Rather than remaining anxious about past wrongdoing, one should take refuge in sincere devotion—especially remembrance and recitation of Kṛṣṇa’s name—as a transformative discipline.