Shloka 56
The Account of Women
Householder Ethics, Fault, Merit, and Govinda-Nāma as Purification
पुराणेमत्कथां श्रुत्वा मत्सादृश्यं लभेन्नरः । कथयित्वा पुराणं च विष्णुसायुज्यतां व्रजेत्
purāṇematkathāṃ śrutvā matsādṛśyaṃ labhennaraḥ | kathayitvā purāṇaṃ ca viṣṇusāyujyatāṃ vrajet
పురాణములో నా కథను వినినవాడు నా సాదృశ్యాన్ని పొందును; మరియు పురాణాన్ని బోధించి/పఠించి, అతడు విష్ణు-సాయుజ్యము, అనగా విష్ణువుతో ఏకత్వాన్ని పొందును.
Unspecified in the provided excerpt (speaker identification requires surrounding verses).
Concept: Śravaṇa of the Lord’s Purāṇic kathā grants sādr̥śya (likeness); pravacana/recitation grants Viṣṇu-sāyujya (union).
Application: Adopt a rhythm: listen to sacred narrative regularly; also share/teach what you learn—devotion matures when it becomes dāna of knowledge.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sage recites Purāṇic kathā beneath a banyan tree while listeners sit in a semicircle, their faces lit by oil lamps and inner calm. As the narration deepens, a translucent vision of Viṣṇu appears above the speaker, and the listeners’ forms subtly take on divine radiance—hinting at sādr̥śya and sāyujya.","primary_figures":["reciting sage","attentive listeners","Vishnu (visionary manifestation)"],"setting":"Forest āśrama with banyan tree, kusa mats, palm-leaf manuscripts, small fire altar and lamps","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["warm amber","sandalwood beige","deep teal","saffron","soft gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central sage holding palm-leaf manuscript, listeners with folded hands, Viṣṇu appearing in a golden halo above; heavy gold leaf on halos and ornaments, rich maroon and emerald garments, ornate arch and floral borders, jewel-like detailing on manuscripts and lamps.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: serene āśrama discourse under a banyan, delicate faces and gestures, soft lamp glow, a faint Viṣṇu vision in the sky; cool greens and blues with warm highlights, refined brushwork, lyrical forest details and distant hills.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: symmetrical kathā scene with bold outlines, sage and listeners in stylized poses, Viṣṇu vision with large eyes and elaborate crown; natural pigments, dominant reds/yellows/greens, temple-wall composition with patterned borders.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Krishna/Vishnu vision above a kathā assembly, lotus and floral borders, peacocks perched on branches, intricate textile patterns; deep blue background with gold highlights, calligraphic motifs suggesting sacred narrative flow."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["soft drone (tanpura)","temple bells (distant)","night insects","crackling lamp flame","silence between verses"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पुराणेमत्कथाम् = पुराणे + मत्कथाम्; लभेन्नरः = लभेत् + नरः (त् + न → न्न)
FAQs
The verse states that by hearing the speaker’s Purāṇic account (mat-kathā), one attains “likeness” (sādṛśya) to the speaker—i.e., a transformed, elevated spiritual state aligned with the divine qualities being praised.
It highlights two classic bhakti practices—śravaṇa (hearing) and kathana/kīrtana (speaking or teaching). Hearing grants spiritual elevation, and sharing the Purāṇa is presented as an even more potent act leading toward liberation connected with Viṣṇu.
Sacred knowledge is not meant only for private benefit: listening is meritorious, but transmitting the Purāṇa for others’ welfare is praised as a higher responsibility that leads to the highest spiritual attainment.