Shloka 5

The Glory of Plastering/Smearing (and Maintaining) Hari’s Temple

Devanagari script

तत्र यावंति पश्यंति रजांसि च द्विजोत्तम । तावत्कल्पसहस्राणि स वसेद्विष्णुमंदिरे

Transliteration

tatra yāvaṃti paśyaṃti rajāṃsi ca dvijottama | tāvatkalpasahasrāṇi sa vasedviṣṇumaṃdire

Translation

О лучший из дважды-рождённых, сколько там увидят пылинок, столько тысяч кальп он будет пребывать в храме, в обители Вишну.

Word by Word

तत्रthere

यावन्तिas many as

पश्यन्तिsee

रजांसिdust-particles

चand

द्विजोत्तमO best of the twice-born

तावत्so many/that much

कल्पसहस्राणिthousands of kalpas

सःhe

वसेत्should dwell

विष्णुमन्दिरेin Viṣṇu's temple

Speaker

Unspecified (context-dependent within Brahma-khaṇḍa narration)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Contact with and service to Viṣṇu’s abode yields immeasurable spiritual reward, transcending ordinary scales of time.

Application: Do not underestimate small devotional acts; cultivate consistency in temple visits and service.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: temple

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sweeping view of a Viṣṇu temple corridor where sunbeams reveal floating dust motes like tiny golden worlds. A sage points toward the shimmering particles while the sanctum radiates, suggesting each speck as a tally of kalpa-thousands of divine residence.","primary_figures":["a sage narrator","a listening brāhmaṇa (dvijottama)","Viṣṇu icon in the sanctum"],"setting":"Long pillared mandapa with carved columns, sanctum doorway at the far end, dust motes visible in angled light","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["honey gold","ivory","sapphire blue","bronze","smoke gray"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: grand mandapa with gold leaf highlights on pillars; sanctum Viṣṇu with radiant prabhāmaṇḍala; dust motes rendered as tiny gold flecks; sage gesturing in teaching posture, rich reds/greens and jewel-like ornamentation.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: soft dawn light cutting through temple arches; delicate depiction of dust motes as luminous dots; refined figures of sage and brāhmaṇa in calm dialogue; subtle landscape glimpsed beyond temple doorway.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized temple interior with rhythmic pillars; bold outlines; dust motes as patterned golden stippling; Viṣṇu in deep blue with yellow-red accents, didactic gesture of the sage emphasized.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ornate architectural frame with floral borders; sanctum as a central shrine motif; dust motes stylized as lotus-seed-like golden dots; deep indigo field with gold and vermilion detailing."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"celebratory","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["temple bells","conch shell","chant chorus","footsteps in stone corridor","soft drone (tanpura)"]}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: यावंति/पश्यंति → यावन्ति/पश्यन्ति (अनुस्वार-लेखनभेद); तावत्कल्पसहस्राणि = तावत् + कल्पसहस्राणि (व्यञ्जन-सन्धि: त् + क); वसेद्विष्णुमंदिरे = वसेत् + विष्णुमन्दिरे (त् + व → द्व)।

Characters & Entities

Viṣṇu

FAQs

What spiritual reward does this verse describe?

It states a phalaśruti: seeing the sacred place yields residence in Viṣṇu’s abode for “thousands of kalpas,” scaled to the number of dust-particles seen there—an idiom for immeasurable merit.

Who is addressed as ‘dvijottama’ in this verse?

‘Dvijottama’ means “best of the twice-born,” typically addressing a learned brāhmaṇa or exemplary Vedic adherent.

How does this verse support a Bhakti-oriented reading of the Padma Purana?

By centering the reward on proximity to Viṣṇu (his mandira/abode) rather than worldly gain, it frames sacred visitation as devotionally transformative and Viṣṇu-focused.