Shloka 42
Tīrtha-Māhātmya of the Sarasvatī Region and the Praise of Kurukṣetra
Pilgrimage Merits
त्रिरात्रोपोषितः स्नात्वा मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया । अग्निष्टोमातिरात्राभ्यां फलं चैव समश्नुते
trirātropoṣitaḥ snātvā mucyate brahmahatyayā | agniṣṭomātirātrābhyāṃ phalaṃ caiva samaśnute
Dengan berpuasa tiga malam lalu mandi suci, seseorang dibebaskan daripada dosa brahmahatyā (membunuh brāhmaṇa); dan turut memperoleh pahala setara dengan yajña Agniṣṭoma dan Atirātra.
Unspecified (context-dependent within Svarga-khaṇḍa dialogues; commonly framed as Pulastya speaking to Bhīṣma in many Padma Purāṇa sections)
Concept: Tapas (three-night fast) combined with tīrtha-snāna functions as prāyaścitta, even for grave sins, and can yield yajña-level merit.
Application: Adopt a short, safe austerity periodically (e.g., a three-day restraint: simple diet, truthfulness, japa, reduced distractions) and conclude with a purifying bath and charity.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A pilgrim undertakes a three-night vow on a riverbank: seated on darbha, wrapped in a simple cloth, counting japa beads under a starry sky. At dawn of the fourth day, he enters the sacred waters; above him, faint silhouettes of Vedic fire-altars and sacrificial ladles appear like visions, signifying Agniṣṭoma–Atirātra merit transmuted into tīrtha-snāna.","primary_figures":["votary pilgrim","invisible Vedic priests (visionary)","river-deity presence (subtle)"],"setting":"quiet confluence/ford with darbha mats, small lamp, japa-mālā, distant shrine","lighting_mood":"moonlit transitioning to dawn","color_palette":["midnight indigo","silver white","saffron","smoke gray","pale gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: ascetic votary on darbha performing trirātra-upavāsa beside a sacred river, then snāna at dawn; visionary Vedic yajña symbols (altar, ladle, soma vessel) hovering in the background; gold leaf on dawn rays and sacred symbols, rich reds/greens, ornate yet devotional composition.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: night-to-dawn gradient sky, delicate figure seated in meditation on the bank, then stepping into water; faint translucent yajña imagery in clouds; refined brushwork, cool tones with warm dawn accents, poetic stillness.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized ascetic figure, river waves in patterned bands, symbolic yajña icons above, bold outlines and natural pigments; temple-wall symmetry, expressive eyes, dominant reds/yellows/greens with indigo background.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central circular mandala of water representing purification, border of sacrificial motifs (kalasha, lamps, lotus), devotee performing snāna; deep blues and gold, intricate floral borders, devotional textile richness."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["night insects","soft flowing water","low temple bell","long silence between pādas"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: त्रिरात्रोपोषितः = त्रिरात्र + उपोषितः; चैव = च + एव
FAQs
A three-night fast (trirātra-upavāsa) followed by ritual bathing (snāna) is presented as an expiatory discipline.
They represent major Vedic soma-sacrifices; the verse states that the practitioner gains merit comparable to the results of these yajñas.
It underscores the gravity of harming the innocent and the sacred duty to pursue purification, restraint, and restitution through disciplined religious practice.