Shloka 44

The Greatness of the Kāliṇdī (Yamunā): Merit of Bathing, Charity, and Faith

Devanagari script

संसारकर्दमालेप प्रक्षालन विशारदम् । पावनं पावनानां च यमुनास्नानमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

saṃsārakardamālepa prakṣālana viśāradam | pāvanaṃ pāvanānāṃ ca yamunāsnānamuttamam

Translation

Mandi suci di Yamunā adalah yang paling utama—mahir membasuh noda kehidupan duniawi yang laksana lumpur, dan ia sendiri merupakan penyuci teragung dalam kalangan para penyuci.

Word by Word

• संसारकर्दमालेपप्रक्षालनविशारदम्: expert at washing off the smear of saṃsāra’s mud
• संसारकर्दमालेपप्रक्षालनविशारदम्: विधेय (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्दम (प्रातिपदिक) + आलेप (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रक्षालन (प्रातिपदिक) + विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative chain: 'संसार-रूप-कर्दम-आलेपस्य प्रक्षालने विशारदम्' = 'expert in washing off the smear of the mud of saṃsāra'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण-प्रयोगः (यमुनास्नानस्य)

• पावनम्: purifying
• पावनम्: विधेय (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण-प्रयोगः

• पावनानाम्: of purifiers (of the purifying things)
• पावनानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine/Generic), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural); 'पावन' = purifier (substantive)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• यमुनास्नानम्: bathing in the Yamunā
• यमुनास्नानम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यमुना (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: 'यमुनायाः स्नानम्'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• उत्तमम्: excellent/best
• उत्तमम्: विधेय (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण-प्रयोगः (यमुनास्नानस्य)

Speaker

Unspecified (contextual narrator within Svargakhaṇḍa’s tīrtha-māhātmya style passage)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tīrtha-snana is not mere ritual: it symbolically and spiritually washes away the clinging impurities of worldly entanglement.

Application: Use external cleansing (snāna) as a cue for internal cleansing: reduce greed/anger, practice truthfulness, and pair bathing with mantra or Hari-smaraṇa.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: river

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The Yamunā flows like liquid emerald, and devotees step into her waters as if entering a living mantra. Dark, clay-like ‘mud’ motifs dissolve into luminous ripples around their feet, visually portraying saṃsāra-kardama being washed away.","primary_figures":["devotees/pilgrims","Yamunā-devī (river personification)"],"setting":"Stone ghāṭa with lotuses, small lamps floating on water, distant temple spires","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["emerald green","pearl white","deep indigo","lamp-flame amber","soft gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Yamunā-devī as a haloed goddess rising from stylized waves, devotees bathing at a ghāṭa; heavy gold leaf on halos, river highlights, and temple arches; rich reds/greens in garments; ornate jewelry and symmetrical composition emphasizing ‘pāvana of pāvanas’.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: gentle river scene with translucent washes showing impurities dissolving into clear water; delicate lotuses, tiny lamps, refined faces of bathers; cool palette with lyrical naturalism and fine linework.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined river waves, Yamunā-devī with large expressive eyes, devotees in simplified forms; natural pigment palette with strong reds/yellows/greens; decorative borders of lotus and conch motifs.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: deep blue-green Yamunā with gold ripples, lotus clusters and peacocks along the bank; central bathing vignette framed by intricate floral borders; Vaishnava symbols and temple silhouettes, emphasizing purity and auspiciousness."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["flowing water","ghāṭa footsteps","temple bells","soft chanting","conch shell"]}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: यमुनास्नानम् + उत्तमम् → यमुनास्नानमुत्तमम् (म् + उ → मुः/म + उ sandhi). प्रथम-पादे पदच्छेदः: संसार-कर्दम-आलेप-प्रक्षालन-विशारदम् (समास-समाहारः).

Characters & Entities

• Yamunā

FAQs

What does this verse teach about Yamunā as a tīrtha?

It presents Yamunā-bathing as a foremost sacred act that removes the ‘mud’ of saṃsāra—symbolizing moral, karmic, and mental impurities—thus ranking Yamunā among the highest purifying agencies.

Is the purification described physical or spiritual?

The language is devotional and metaphorical: while it refers to bathing (snāna), the primary emphasis is spiritual cleansing—washing away the stains of worldly entanglement.

What ethical or practical lesson is implied for a devotee?

The verse encourages intentional purification: seeking sacred environments and practices (like tīrtha-snān) as supports for inner reform, humility, and detachment from saṃsāric ‘stains.’