Shloka 56
The Liberation of the Lizard
Godhā-vimukti
शशी सूर्योऽथ पर्जन्यो मेदिनी हुतभुग्जलम् । चंदनं पादपाः संतः परोपकरणाय वै ॥ ५६ ॥
śaśī sūryo'tha parjanyo medinī hutabhugjalam | caṃdanaṃ pādapāḥ saṃtaḥ paropakaraṇāya vai || 56 ||
చంద్రుడు, సూర్యుడు, వర్షమేఘం, భూమి, అగ్ని, జలం—అలాగే చందనం, వృక్షాలు—ఇవన్నీ పరహితార్థమే; అలాగే సద్గురు-సంతులు కూడా సేవాభావంతో ఇతరుల మేలుకోసమే జీవిస్తారు॥५६॥
Narada (teaching in a didactic passage; traditional Narada Purana dialogue framework)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It presents nature as a model of selfless giving and declares that a true saint (santaḥ) similarly lives for paropakāra—others’ welfare—making service a core expression of dharma.
Bhakti is implied as practical compassion: like the moon, sun, rain, and earth that sustain life without selfishness, a devotee serves beings as an offering-minded life aligned with divine order.
No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught; instead, it reinforces dharma-śikṣā (ethical instruction) using cosmic elements (sun, moon, rain, fire, water) as illustrative categories familiar to Vedic ritual and worldview.