Shloka 44
The Five Narratives (Pañcākhyāna): Desire, Forbearance, Devotion, and Merit of Hearing
स्नानेन पुष्करे नित्यं भागीरथ्यां च सर्वदा । यत्फलं तदवाप्नोति सकृच्छ्रवणगोचरात्
snānena puṣkare nityaṃ bhāgīrathyāṃ ca sarvadā | yatphalaṃ tadavāpnoti sakṛcchravaṇagocarāt
పుష్కరంలో నిత్యస్నానం చేయడం వల్ల, భాగీరథీ (గంగా)లో సదా స్నానం చేయడం వల్ల లభించే ఫలం ఏదో, అదే ఫలాన్ని ఈ కథను ఒక్కసారి వినడమే ద్వారా పొందుతాడు.
Unspecified (context-dependent narration within Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa; commonly framed as a sage-to-listener discourse in Purāṇic style)
Concept: Hearing sacred account even once grants the fruit of lifelong tīrtha bathing—inner purification surpasses physical travel.
Application: When travel is impossible, cultivate ‘inner pilgrimage’ through attentive listening, ethical living, and remembrance; treat kathā time as sacred bathing.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Two sacred landscapes appear like mirrored visions: Puṣkara’s serene lake with ghats and Brahmā’s temple, and the swift, luminous Bhāgīrathī flowing from Himalayan heights. In the center, a seated listener hears a recitation; from the sound-waves arise translucent water-ripples that wash over both tīrthas, symbolizing that śravaṇa itself becomes the bath.","primary_figures":["devotee listener","Purāṇika (reciter)","personified Gaṅgā (optional)","Brahmā (iconic presence at Puṣkara, optional)"],"setting":"split-scene sacred geography: Puṣkara lake ghats and Himalayan Gaṅgā banks, unified by a central satsanga","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["turquoise water","himalayan white","sunrise gold","terracotta","sacred vermilion"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: composite sacred panorama—Puṣkara lake with Brahmā temple on one side, Bhāgīrathī with snowy peaks on the other; central reciter and listener under an ornate arch; gold leaf on temple spires, halos, and water highlights; rich reds/greens, jewel-like detailing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical Himalayan riverbank with delicate mountains and a distant Puṣkara lake vignette; fine brushwork on rippling water and ghats; the listener and reciter small yet luminous, soft dawn gradient, refined faces and textiles.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized river goddess Gaṅgā emerging from waves, Puṣkara ghats rendered in rhythmic geometry; central satsanga framed by lotus bands; bold outlines, natural pigments, temple-wall symmetry.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: deep blue river field with lotus motifs; Puṣkara and Gaṅgā represented as sacred vignettes around a central listening devotee; ornate floral borders, gold highlights, peacocks and cows as auspicious fillers, devotional narrative emphasis."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["flowing water","temple bells","conch shell (distant)","birds at dawn"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यत्फलं → यत् + फलम्; तदवाप्नोति → तत् + अवाप्नोति; सकृच्छ्रवणगोचरात् → सकृत् + श्रवणगोचरात् (त् + श् → च्छ्); श्रवणगोचरात् = श्रवण + गोचर (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)
FAQs
It highlights Puṣkara and the Bhāgīrathī (Gaṅgā) as premier tīrthas whose ritual bathing is traditionally praised for producing great merit.
By equating the merit of arduous pilgrimage-bathing with simply hearing the sacred narration once, it elevates accessible devotional practices like śravaṇa (listening) as a powerful spiritual means.
The verse teaches that sincere engagement with sacred teachings (attentive listening) can be spiritually transformative, encouraging faith, humility, and consistent practice even without extensive travel or resources.