Shloka 55
The Sin of Breaking Households: Citrā’s Past Karma and the Remedy of Hari’s Name and Meditation
जपहोमव्रतात्पापं नाशं याति हि पापिनाम् । मदं त्यजेद्यथा नागो भयात्सिंहस्य सर्वदा
japahomavratātpāpaṃ nāśaṃ yāti hi pāpinām | madaṃ tyajedyathā nāgo bhayātsiṃhasya sarvadā
ஜபம், ஹோமம், விரதம் ஆகியவற்றால் பாவிகளின் பாவங்களும் நிச்சயமாக அழிகின்றன; சிங்கத்தின் பயத்தால் யானை எப்போதும் தன் மதத்தை விட்டுவிடுவது போல.
Unspecified (narrative voice not provided in the input excerpt)
Concept: Ritual discipline (japa-homa-vrata) destroys sin; humility replaces pride as naturally as an elephant’s arrogance collapses before a lion.
Application: Keep a manageable vow (weekly Ekādaśī, daily nāma-japa, occasional homa/ārati); pair it with deliberate humility practices—apologize quickly, serve quietly, reduce ego-driven speech.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee performs homa at dawn, counting japa beads, while a subtle aura of dark smoke (sins) dissipates into clear sky. In a symbolic side-panel within the same composition, a mighty elephant lowers its head and releases its swagger as a lion stands calmly—an emblem of pride dissolving before higher power and discipline.","primary_figures":["a vrata-observing devotee","Agni (homa fire)","symbolic elephant","symbolic lion"],"setting":"riverless open courtyard near a small shrine, homa-kuṇḍa with offerings, prayer items arranged neatly","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["sunrise gold","sacred ash white","terracotta","deep forest green","smoke violet"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: devotee before a homa fire with gold leaf flames, japa-mālā detailed, ritual vessels ornate; side vignette of elephant and lion rendered iconically; rich reds and greens, heavy gold embellishment on fire and borders, traditional South Indian devotional composition.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: dawn ritual scene with delicate smoke trails, fine detailing of beads and offerings; the elephant-lion metaphor shown as a small narrative inset; cool morning blues with warm gold light, refined naturalism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold-lined homa scene with stylized Agni, devotee in profile, elephant and lion as emblematic figures; strong reds/yellows/greens, temple-wall symmetry and clarity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central ritual arrangement framed by floral borders; repeated lamp and lotus motifs; elephant and lion placed in decorative medallions; deep blue background with gold and vermillion accents, intricate patterning."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"celebratory","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["crackling homa fire","mantra murmurs","temple bells","conch shell (punctuating)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: जपहोमव्रतात्+पापम् → जपहोमव्रतात्पापम् (त् before प); मदम्+त्यजेत् → मदं त्यजेत् (म् before त); भयात्+सिंहस्य → भयात्सिंहस्य (त् before स).
FAQs
The verse highlights japa (mantra repetition), homa (fire offerings), and vrata (religious vows) as disciplines that lead to the destruction of sin.
It uses the simile to show that pride can be dropped decisively when genuine fear, reverence, or moral urgency arises—just as an elephant abandons its “mada” (rut/pride) when confronted by a lion.
Spiritual discipline should be paired with humility: external practices (japa, homa, vrata) are meant to remove inner faults like pride, not merely to perform ritual acts.