Shloka 15
The Greatness of the Kāliṇdī (Yamunā): Merit of Bathing, Charity, and Faith
नैश्वर्यं गगने यद्वच्चांद्रे ऽमायां तु मंडले । तद्वन्न भाति सत्कर्म यमुनामज्जनं विना
naiśvaryaṃ gagane yadvaccāṃdre 'māyāṃ tu maṃḍale | tadvanna bhāti satkarma yamunāmajjanaṃ vinā
అమావాస్య రాత్రి ఆకాశంలో చంద్రబింబం ప్రకాశించనట్లే, యమునలో స్నానం లేకుండా సత్కర్మఫలం వెలుగొందదు।
Not specified in the provided excerpt (context-dependent within Svarga-khaṇḍa 3.29).
Concept: Merit becomes manifest (‘bhāti’) when supported by sanctifying contact with a supreme tīrtha; sacred place acts as a revealer of dharma’s radiance.
Application: Pair ethical action with periodic ‘reset’ practices—pilgrimage, sacred bathing, or at least mindful ablution with mantra—so that good intentions become steady habits.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: river
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vast night sky shows the amāvāsyā—moon absent, stars muted—while below, the Yamunā glimmers with an otherworldly sheen. As a pilgrim steps into the water with folded hands, a faint halo-like radiance spreads, symbolizing puṇya beginning to ‘shine’.","primary_figures":["pilgrim devotee","Yamunā-devī (subtle presence in the water)","Vāsudeva (suggested as a distant luminous form or temple lamp)"],"setting":"Quiet Yamunā riverbank with ghāṭ steps, night sky overhead, small oil lamps near a shrine","lighting_mood":"moonless night with divine radiance rising from water","color_palette":["midnight indigo","silver-gray","deep teal","lamp-flame amber","soft ivory highlights"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: moonless sky rendered as dark indigo panel, Yamunā as a stylized silver-teal band with gold leaf sparkles; central devotee offering arghya, small Vāsudeva icon with thick gold halo; ornate borders, rich reds/greens, gem-like embellishments on lamps and jewelry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: serene nocturne with delicate star points, cool palette, Yamunā reflecting lamp-light; a lone devotee at ghāṭ steps, refined facial features, lyrical ripples; subtle symbolic glow around the bather indicating dharma’s emergence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: strong outlines, simplified celestial dome without moon, Yamunā as patterned wave band; devotee in namaskāra, stylized aura motifs; red/yellow/green pigments with black contouring and temple-wall framing.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: decorative night scene with repeating lotus and wave motifs, lamps as rhythmic dots of amber, central shrine of Kṛṣṇa/Vāsudeva; intricate floral borders, deep blue ground, gold accents suggesting ‘shining merit’."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["night insects","gentle water lapping","distant temple bell","soft conch in distance","silence between phrases"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चांद्रे 'मायां→चन्द्रे + अमायाम् (ऽ = अवग्रह); तद्वन्न→तद्वत् + न
FAQs
It presents Yamunā-bathing as a catalyst that makes merit “shine” or become effective/manifest, using the new-moon night’s lack of moonlight as an analogy for merit without that sacred act.
On amāvasyā the moon’s presence is not visibly radiant; likewise, the verse claims that satkarma may remain spiritually “unilluminated” unless complemented by Yamunā immersion.
It encourages integrating inner ethics (satkarma) with prescribed sacred practices (Yamunā-snān), emphasizing that Purāṇic dharma often values both conduct and ritual observance.