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
Maka apa lagi yang perlu ditakuti tentang dosanya, wahai para muni terunggul? Wahai para maharishi, Nama Kṛṣṇa ialah tīrtha yang paling utama, mengatasi segala tīrtha.
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.