Shloka 10
Prayāga’s Supremacy Among Tīrthas: Faith, Yoga, Charity, and the Ethics of Attainment
क्लिश्यते चापरस्तत्र नैव योगमवाप्नुयात् । जन्मांतरसहस्रेभ्यो योगो लभ्येत मानवैः
kliśyate cāparastatra naiva yogamavāpnuyāt | janmāṃtarasahasrebhyo yogo labhyeta mānavaiḥ
तत्रापरः क्लिश्यते, नैव योगमवाप्नुयात्; मानवैः सहस्रजन्मान्तरैरेव योगो लभ्यते।
Unspecified (narrative voice within Svarga-khaṇḍa context)
Concept: Yoga (spiritual union/realization) is difficult and often ripens only after many births; human effort alone may be insufficient without accumulated saṁskāra and grace.
Application: Cultivate patience and steadiness in practice; avoid judging spiritual progress by short timelines; add accessible dharmic acts (charity, pilgrimage, devotion) alongside inner discipline.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lone sādhaka sits on a rocky riverbank beneath an ancient aśvattha tree, body thin from austerity, eyes half-closed in meditation. Behind him, faint translucent silhouettes of past lives drift like layered veils, suggesting thousands of births, while a distant temple spire hints at grace beyond effort.","primary_figures":["a human yogin (sādhaka)","subtle ancestral silhouettes (past births)"],"setting":"riverbank with old tree, distant pilgrimage-town skyline, scattered kusa grass and a small water pot","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["ash grey","deep indigo","sandalwood beige","river jade","soft saffron"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: an emaciated yogin in padmāsana under an aśvattha tree by a sacred river, distant gopura-like temple silhouette, layered halos suggesting many births, gold leaf embellishment on the aura and temple finial, rich reds and greens in the border, gem-studded ornaments only on the divine aura motifs, traditional South Indian iconographic symmetry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a solitary yogin on a quiet riverbank, delicate brushwork showing ripples and kusa grass, cool mountain palette with indigo shadows, lyrical naturalism, refined facial features, faint ghostlike past-life figures in pale washes, distant town and temple spire under a soft sky.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines of a meditating ascetic beneath a stylized sacred tree, natural pigments with warm ochres and greens, temple-wall aesthetic, large expressive eyes, rhythmic river patterning, subtle repeated silhouettes behind him to indicate many births.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: contemplative riverbank scene framed by intricate floral borders and lotus motifs, deep blues and gold, a central meditating figure with repeated lotus medallions representing countless births, peacocks perched on the tree, devotional ambience though not Krishna-centered."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["silence","flowing water","distant temple bells","soft wind in leaves"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: cāparaḥ = ca+aparaḥ; naiva = na+eva; yogamavāpnuyāt = yogam+avāpnuyāt; janmāṃtara- = janma+antara (आकारसन्धि); labhyeta (optative, passive sense)
FAQs
It teaches that Yoga is not easily attained: some may exert great effort yet fail, and true attainment often ripens only after spiritual progress accumulated over many lifetimes.
No. It emphasizes realism and patience: effort is necessary, but results depend on maturity of past impressions (saṃskāras) and accumulated merit, so perseverance is essential.
Humility and compassion: one should not judge others’ progress, and should avoid pride in one’s own practice, since attainment may be the fruit of long, unseen preparation.