Shloka 16
The Greatness of the Revā (Narmadā): Release from the Piśāca Curse
सप्तजन्मकृतं पापं वर्तमानं च पातकम् । रेवास्नानं दहेत्सर्वं तूलराशिमिवानलः
saptajanmakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ vartamānaṃ ca pātakam | revāsnānaṃ dahetsarvaṃ tūlarāśimivānalaḥ
Mandi di Revā membakar habis segala dosa—yang terkumpul sepanjang tujuh kelahiran dan juga kesalahan masa kini—seperti api menghanguskan timbunan kapas.
Unspecified (narratorial/teaching voice within the Svarga-khaṇḍa’s tīrtha-māhātmya context)
Concept: Sacred bathing in Revā has the power to burn accumulated karmic impurities across lifetimes, provided one approaches the tīrtha with reverence and proper conduct.
Application: Do not despair over long-standing habits or guilt—commit to a disciplined purification regimen (outer and inner), and let consistent sacred practice ‘burn’ accumulated tendencies.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: river
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The Revā’s waters surge with crystalline brilliance as devotees immerse, and above the surface a symbolic heap of cotton ignites and vanishes—an allegory of sins consumed instantly. The scene balances realism (river, bathers, bank) with visionary symbolism (fire-light within water, karmic smoke dissolving into sky).","primary_figures":["Revā/Narmadā (as river-goddess aura or subtle presence)","bathers performing snāna","sage guide (optional)"],"setting":"Broad river with ghats and stone steps; offerings of flowers and lamps floating; distant temple spire on the bank.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["crystal blue","white-gold","flame orange","lotus magenta","emerald green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: grand river-goddess presence emerging from stylized waves with thick gold leaf highlights; devotees bathing on ornate ghats; a symbolic cotton heap burning in mid-air as a visual metaphor; rich reds and greens, gem-like detailing, gold-leaf flames and halos, intricate border with lotus and chakra motifs.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: luminous river landscape with delicate ripples; subtle supernatural fire-light reflected in water; cotton heap motif painted as a small allegorical vignette above the river; refined figures, cool blues and greens, soft sky gradients, lyrical trees and distant hills.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized wave bands and flame motifs; Revā as a goddess with bold eyes and ornate crown; devotees in rhythmic poses; strong red-yellow-green palette with black outlines, temple-wall symmetry and decorative borders.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central river scene framed by dense lotus vines; floating diyas and floral offerings; allegorical cotton-and-fire motif integrated into the border medallion; deep indigo and gold, peacocks and cows at margins, intricate Nathdwara-inspired ornamentation adapted to Revā-mahātmya."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"celebratory","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["flowing water (prominent)","conch shell","temple bells","chanting chorus (soft)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दहेत्सर्वं→दहेत् सर्वम्; तूलराशिमिवानलः→तूलराशिम् इव अनलः (म्+इ→मिव; इव+अनलः→इवानलः)।
FAQs
It teaches that bathing in the Revā is a powerful purificatory act that destroys both long-accumulated sins and present faults, compared to fire burning cotton.
“Seven births” is a traditional hyperbolic measure indicating very deep, long-standing karmic accumulation; the verse emphasizes the exceptional cleansing power attributed to the Revā tīrtha.
It encourages repentance and purification through sacred practices, while implicitly urging one to avoid ongoing wrongdoing (“present sins”) even as one seeks cleansing.