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Shloka 11

The Deeds of Cyavana

in the Context of Guru-tirtha Glorification

किं तीर्थं प्राप्य मुच्येत ब्रह्मघ्नो ब्रह्महत्यया । सुरापोमुच्यतेपापाद्गोघ्नोहेमापहारकः

kiṃ tīrthaṃ prāpya mucyeta brahmaghno brahmahatyayā | surāpomucyatepāpādgoghnohemāpahārakaḥ

ఏ తీర్థాన్ని పొందితే బ్రాహ్మణహంతుడు బ్రహ్మహత్యాపాపం నుండి విముక్తుడవుతాడు? అలాగే ఏ (తీర్థం) వలన సురాపానుడు, గోహంతుడు, స్వర్ణాపహారకుడూ పాపముక్తులవుతారు?

kimwhat?
kim:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootkim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd—द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); interrogative
tīrthampilgrimage place
tīrtham:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd—द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
prāpyahaving reached
prāpya:
Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpra-√āp (आप् धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal (अव्ययभाव)
mucyetawould be freed
mucyeta:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√muc (मुच् धातु)
FormOptative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद); passive sense ‘be released’
brahma-ghnaḥslayer of a Brahmin
brahma-ghnaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootbrahman (प्रातिपदिक) + ghna (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa (उपपद-तत्पुरुष: brahmaṇaḥ ghnaḥ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
brahma-hatyayāby/with the sin of Brahmin-murder
brahma-hatyayā:
Hetu (हेतु)
TypeNoun
Rootbrahman (प्रातिपदिक) + hatyā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: brahmaṇaḥ hatyā), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd—तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)
surā-paḥdrinker of liquor
surā-paḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootsurā (प्रातिपदिक) + pa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa (उपपद-तत्पुरुष: surāṃ pibati), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
mucyateis freed
mucyate:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√muc (मुच् धातु)
FormPresent (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद); passive sense
pāpātfrom sin
pāpāt:
Apadana (अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootpāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th—पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)
go-ghnaḥcow-killer
go-ghnaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootgo (प्रातिपदिक) + ghna (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa (उपपद-तत्पुरुष: gāṃ hanti), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
hema-apahārakaḥstealer of gold
hema-apahārakaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roothema (प्रातिपदिक) + apahāraka (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa (षष्ठी/कर्म-तत्पुरुष: hemasya apahārakaḥ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Unspecified in the provided excerpt (context needed from surrounding verses; commonly framed as a question within a dialogue such as Pulastya–Bhīṣma in Bhūmi-khaṇḍa).

Concept: Sin has consequences, yet dharma provides structured paths of expiation; tīrtha is not a loophole but a transformative discipline when paired with repentance and right conduct.

Application: Do not normalize wrongdoing; if harm is done, seek restitution, confession to a trusted guide, disciplined penance, and sustained ethical reform—ritual without reform is incomplete.

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Type: tirtha

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A troubled seeker kneels at the edge of a sacred ford, hands trembling as dark, smoky forms—symbols of mahāpātaka—coil behind him like shadows. Across the water, a luminous tīrtha-shrine glows, and a compassionate sage points toward the path of snāna and penance, suggesting hope without minimizing the gravity of the sins.","primary_figures":["Questioner (pilgrim/seeker)","Sage/teacher figure","Personified shadows of pāpa (symbolic)","Tīrtha-deity icon (distant)"],"setting":"A stark river confluence with stone steps, a small shrine, and a penitential atmosphere; offerings of sesame, water-pot, and kusa grass visible.","lighting_mood":"moonlit","color_palette":["ink black","ash gray","river silver","lamp gold","deep indigo"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: dramatic penitence scene at a ghāṭa; seeker in humble posture, sage indicating the shrine; gold-leaf radiance around the deity and lamps contrasts with dark pāpa-shadows; ornate temple arch, rich reds and greens, gem-like highlights on ritual vessels.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: night confluence with silver water and delicate steps; seeker and sage rendered with refined emotion; faint smoky silhouettes behind; cool palette, subtle lamp glow, lyrical yet grave mood.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: symbolic composition—dark pāpa forms as stylized serpentine shapes, bright shrine aura; bold outlines, strong contrast of black/indigo with yellow-red lamp tones; didactic temple-wall storytelling feel.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central river with lotus motifs subdued; penitential figures small but expressive; ornate border with repeating sesame/kalasha motifs; deep blue ground with gold lamps, emphasizing purification through sacred water."}

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["low temple gong","river at night","distant conch","silence between phrases"]}

Sandhi Resolution Notes: surāpomucyatepāpād → surā-paḥ mucyate pāpāt; goghnohemāpahārakaḥ → go-ghnaḥ hema-apahārakaḥ.

FAQs

It asks which specific pilgrimage place has the power to liberate a person from grave sins (mahāpātakas) such as brahminicide, drinking liquor, killing a cow, and stealing gold.

The verse underscores moral gravity: these acts are presented as severe transgressions, prompting inquiry into expiation, purification, and the disciplined pursuit of remedy through sanctioned sacred means.

No. This śloka is framed as a question; the answer (the name of the tīrtha and the method) is expected in the surrounding verses of the chapter.