Shloka 87
Tīrtha-Māhātmya of the Sarasvatī Region and the Praise of Kurukṣetra
Pilgrimage Merits
अश्वमेधसहस्रस्य सम्यगिष्टस्य यत्फलम् । स्नात एव तदाप्नोति श्राद्धं कृत्वा च मानवः
aśvamedhasahasrasya samyagiṣṭasya yatphalam | snāta eva tadāpnoti śrāddhaṃ kṛtvā ca mānavaḥ
Apa jua pahala daripada seribu yajña Aśvamedha yang dilaksanakan dengan sempurna—pahala itu juga dicapai oleh seseorang hanya dengan mandi dan melakukan Śrāddha.
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.