Shloka 45
The Greatness of the Kāliṇdī (Yamunā): Merit of Bathing, Charity, and Faith
स्नातास्तत्र च ये राजन्सर्वकामफलप्रदे । शुभांश्च भुंजते भोगांश्चंद्र सूर्यग्रहोपमान्
snātāstatra ca ye rājansarvakāmaphalaprade | śubhāṃśca bhuṃjate bhogāṃścaṃdra sūryagrahopamān
హే రాజా! సర్వకామఫలప్రదమైన ఆ తీర్థంలో స్నానం చేసినవారు చంద్ర-సూర్య-గ్రహసమానమైన తేజస్సుతో కూడిన శుభభోగాలను అనుభవిస్తారు।
Unspecified narrator addressing a king (rājan)
Concept: Sacred bathing yields tangible phala—fulfillment of aims and auspicious enjoyments—depicted in cosmic imagery (moon, sun, grahas).
Application: When seeking results from sacred acts, add saṅkalpa of offering the merit to Viṣṇu; cultivate gratitude and restraint so ‘bhoga’ does not eclipse ‘bhakti’.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Pilgrims emerge from the Yamunā with wet garments shimmering, and above them the sky blooms with symbolic orbs—moon, sun, and the planetary lights—arranged like a celestial mandala of reward. The ghāṭa is strewn with flowers and lamps, suggesting that tīrtha-phala manifests as radiance and auspicious prosperity.","primary_figures":["pilgrims/bathers","celestial personifications of Sūrya, Candra, and Grahas (symbolic)"],"setting":"Yamunā ghāṭa with temple skyline and a wide open sky for cosmic imagery","lighting_mood":"golden dawn transitioning to bright day","color_palette":["sun-gold","moon-silver","lapis blue","marigold orange","white jasmine"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: devotees at a Yamunā ghāṭa receiving blessings, with a gold-leaf celestial mandala of sun, moon, and grahas overhead; rich reds/greens in attire, gem-studded ornaments, ornate temple arch framing the scene; luminous gold highlights on water and planetary discs.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: elegant bathers on stone steps, delicate sky gradient with stylized sun and moon, small planetary discs like jeweled dots; refined facial features, soft naturalism, cool river blues contrasted with warm celestial tones.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold circular sun and moon motifs above rhythmic wave patterns; devotees in simplified iconic poses; strong reds/yellows/greens with black outlines; decorative border of lotus and conch patterns.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Yamunā ghāṭa framed by intricate floral borders, floating diyas, and lotus motifs; overhead a symmetrical celestial arrangement in gold and silver tones; peacocks and cows at the margins, deep blues and gold typical of Nathdwara tradition."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"celebratory","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["conch shell","temple bells","crowd murmur","flowing water","hand cymbals"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: snātāḥ tatra → snātāstatra; rājan sarva-… → rājansarva…; śubhān ca → śubhāṃśca (anusvāra sandhi); bhogān candra… → bhogāṃścaṃdra… (anusvāra sandhi); candra-sūrya-graha-upamān written as caṃdra sūryagrahopamān in IAST due to sandhi/spacing.
FAQs
It presents tīrtha-snāna as a merit-generating act whose result is described as “sarvakāmaphalapradā”—capable of yielding the fruits of many aims—culminating in auspicious enjoyments.
It is a poetic comparison indicating brilliance, excellence, and elevated (heavenly) quality of enjoyment, not a literal equivalence to celestial bodies.
The verse encourages disciplined sacred practice—especially bathing at sanctified places—framing it as a wholesome, auspicious pursuit aligned with dharma and beneficial outcomes.