Shloka 35
Praise of Devotion to Viṣṇu
The Supremacy of Hari’s Name over All Tīrthas
जिह्वां लब्ध्वापि लोकेऽस्मिन्कृष्णनामजपेन्नहि । लब्ध्वापि मुक्तिसोपानं हेलयैव च्यवंति ते
jihvāṃ labdhvāpi loke'sminkṛṣṇanāmajapennahi | labdhvāpi muktisopānaṃ helayaiva cyavaṃti te
जिह्वां लब्ध्वापि लोकेऽस्मिन् कृष्णनाम न जपन्ति ये । मुक्तिसोपानमासाद्य हेलयैव पतन्ति ते ॥
Not explicitly stated in the provided excerpt (context needed from Svargakhaṇḍa 50)
Concept: Human birth and speech are rare; failing to chant Kṛṣṇa-nāma is squandering the very ladder to liberation, and mere negligence causes spiritual fall.
Application: Set a non-negotiable daily minimum of nāma-japa; treat 'helā' as a habit to uproot by scheduling, accountability, and mindful pronunciation.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A symbolic staircase made of luminous syllables—'KṚṢṆA'—rises from a human tongue depicted as a lotus-petal platform. A careless figure turns away mid-step, slipping into shadow, while a vigilant devotee ascends with japa-mālā, each bead igniting a rung of light.","primary_figures":["careless seeker (helā)","devotee with japa-mālā","Kṛṣṇa (as radiant source above the staircase)"],"setting":"Allegorical inner landscape: a cosmic void with a shining nāma-stairway; faint outlines of samsāric whirlpools below.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance against deep shadow","color_palette":["midnight blue","electric gold","lotus white","amethyst purple","vermillion"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central nāma-staircase rendered with gold leaf; Kṛṣṇa’s halo at the summit with conch-chakra motifs; the devotee ascending in rich red/green garments with gem-like bead highlights; the falling figure in muted tones; ornate arch frame and lotus border.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: poetic allegory with delicate lines; a pale luminous stair of script-like syllables; cool blues and purples; refined faces showing vigilance vs negligence; minimalistic cosmic background with subtle floral motifs.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines; stylized tongue-lotus platform; bright yellow and red for the nāma-stair; Kṛṣṇa emblematic at top with large expressive eyes; strong contrast between light path and dark fall.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: the nāma syllables woven into floral-lotus patterns forming a staircase; peacocks and cows as auspicious border elements; deep blue ground with gold ornamentation; central japa-mālā motif repeated as a rhythmic design."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["sharp kartal strikes","conch shell accent","rising drone (tanpura)","sudden silence on 'helā'","echoing mantra syllables"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: लोकेऽस्मिन् = लोके + अस्मिन्; अस्मिन्कृष्ण... = अस्मिन् + कृष्ण...; जपेन्नहि = जपे + न + हि; हेलयैव = हेलया + एव.
FAQs
It implies the tongue is a precious instrument meant for divine remembrance—especially chanting Kṛṣṇa’s name—rather than being wasted on neglect or irreligious speech.
It presents nāma-japa (repetition of Kṛṣṇa’s name) as a readily available means toward liberation, and warns that indifference to it causes spiritual decline.
Do not be careless about spiritual opportunities; when the means to upliftment is available, negligence alone can lead to downfall.