Shloka 127
The Greatness of the Ancestors: Ekoddiṣṭa Śrāddha, Āśauca Rules, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa
इदं च पितृमाहात्म्यं ब्रह्मदत्तस्य वै नृप । द्विजेभ्यः श्रावयेद्विद्वान्शृणोति पठतेपि वा । कल्पकोटिशतं साग्रं ब्रह्मलोके महीयते
idaṃ ca pitṛmāhātmyaṃ brahmadattasya vai nṛpa | dvijebhyaḥ śrāvayedvidvānśṛṇoti paṭhatepi vā | kalpakoṭiśataṃ sāgraṃ brahmaloke mahīyate
ହେ ନୃପ! ଏହା ବ୍ରହ୍ମଦତ୍ତଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା କଥିତ ପିତୃ-ମାହାତ୍ମ୍ୟ। ଯେ ବିଦ୍ୱାନ ଏହାକୁ ଦ୍ୱିଜମାନଙ୍କୁ ଶ୍ରାବ୍ୟ କରାଏ, କିମ୍ବା ନିଜେ ଶୁଣେ ଅଥବା ପଢ଼େ, ସେ ସାଗ୍ର କଳ୍ପ-କୋଟି-ଶତ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ବ୍ରହ୍ମଲୋକରେ ମହିମାନ୍ୱିତ ହୁଏ।
Unspecified narrator addressing a king (nṛpa) within the Adhyāya’s dialogue context
Concept: Śravaṇa, pāṭha, and śrāvaṇa-to-brāhmaṇas of pitṛ-māhātmya generate immense merit, granting prolonged honor in Brahmaloka.
Application: Read or listen to dharma-kathā regularly; support learned reciters/teachers; integrate remembrance of ancestors with scriptural study and charity.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A learned man sits before a small assembly of brāhmaṇas, reciting from a palm-leaf manuscript while offerings and lamps glow nearby. Above the scene, Brahmaloka appears as a radiant, lotus-like city of light with Brahmā’s serene presence, suggesting the vast timescale of ‘hundreds of crores of kalpas’ as concentric cosmic rings.","primary_figures":["learned reciter (vidvān)","brāhmaṇas (listeners)","Brahmā (as distant celestial presider)"],"setting":"ritual hall or riverbank pavilion transitioning visually into a celestial lotus-city (Brahmaloka) in the upper register","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit merging into divine radiance","color_palette":["lamp-gold","manuscript tan","vermillion","pearl white","cosmic violet"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a central vidvān reciting from palm-leaf manuscripts to seated brāhmaṇas, with ornate pillars and oil lamps; upper panel shows Brahmaloka as a golden lotus-palace with Brahmā enthroned, heavy gold leaf embossing for celestial architecture, rich reds/greens, gem-studded ornaments and decorative borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate kathā scene with delicate brushwork—listeners in white garments, manuscript details, soft lamp glow; above, a pale luminous Brahmaloka rendered like a floating lotus-island with refined celestial figures, cool purples and blues, lyrical composition.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined recitation tableau with clear gestures of teaching and listening; upper band shows Brahmā in a lotus pavilion, stylized cosmic motifs, red/yellow/green pigments with black outlines and temple-wall symmetry.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: kathā-mandap framed by intricate floral borders and lotus motifs; the act of recitation depicted as a central ritual, while Brahmaloka appears as a large lotus mandala above in deep blue and gold, fine textile ornamentation and patterned negative space."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["page/palm-leaf rustle","soft bell punctuations","low chorus response","steady drone (tanpura-like)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: श्रावयेद्विद्वान् = श्रावयेत् + विद्वान् (त् + व → द्-व). विद्वान्शृणोति = विद्वान् + शृणोति (न् + श → ञ्श/ंś). पठतेपि = पठते + अपि (स्वर-सन्धि). कल्पकोटिशतं = कल्प-कोटि-शतम् (समास). ब्रह्मलोके = ब्रह्म-लोके (समास).
FAQs
It praises transmitting the teaching on the glory of the Pitṛs by having it recited to Brahmins, as well as personally listening to it or reading/reciting it.
The verse states that the person is honored in Brahmaloka for an immense duration—described as a full hundred crores of kalpas.
The verse emphasizes reverence for ancestral rites and the power of sacred listening/recitation (śravaṇa and pāṭha), presenting them as meritorious disciplines connected with honoring tradition and dharma.