Shloka 23
Exposition of the Duties of Ascetics
Saṃnyāsa-Dharma
आत्मज्ञानगुणोपेतो यदि मोक्षमवाप्नुयात् । अभ्यसेत्सततं देवं प्रणवाख्यं सनातनम्
ātmajñānaguṇopeto yadi mokṣamavāpnuyāt | abhyasetsatataṃ devaṃ praṇavākhyaṃ sanātanam
ఆత్మజ్ఞానగుణంతో యుక్తుడై మోక్షాన్ని పొందదలచినవాడు, ప్రణవం (ఓం) అనే సనాతన దేవుని నిత్యం అభ్యసించాలి—జపధ్యానముగా.
Unspecified (narrative voice not provided in the input excerpt; commonly framed within Pulastya–Bhīṣma dialogue in Padma Purāṇa contexts)
Concept: For one seeking mokṣa with ātma-jñāna, constant abhyāsa of the eternal Deity as Praṇava (Oṃ) is prescribed.
Application: Daily Oṃ-japa or Oṃ Namo Nārāyaṇāya with steady breath; short pauses before speech to remember Praṇava and reduce reactive ego.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a vast inner-sky of meditation, the syllable Oṃ appears as luminous calligraphy, unfolding into a subtle form of Nārāyaṇa seated on a lotus of sound-waves. A yogin sits below, spine like a pillar, breath visible as gentle rings that merge into the radiance of Praṇava.","primary_figures":["meditating yogin/sādhaka","Nārāyaṇa as the deity of Praṇava (subtle visionary form)"],"setting":"interior meditation space that blends into a cosmic soundscape—no walls, only concentric ripples of mantra","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["sapphire blue","white-gold","amethyst violet","lotus pink","smoky indigo"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central glowing ‘Oṃ’ rendered with gold leaf, transforming into Nārāyaṇa with conch and discus, seated on a lotus; yogin below in composed posture, ornate gold borders, gem-like highlights on the deity’s ornaments, rich reds and greens framing the cosmic blue field.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: ethereal scene with delicate gradients, a fine-lined Oṃ floating above a serene yogin, Nārāyaṇa emerging softly from the syllable, cool blues and violets, refined facial features, minimal landscape—only lyrical clouds of sound.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines of Oṃ as a sacred emblem, Nārāyaṇa with characteristic large eyes and stylized ornaments, rhythmic wave patterns for mantra ripples, warm yellow and red accents against deep blue, temple-wall compositional symmetry.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ornate circular mandala of mantra-ripples, central Oṃ medallion with Nārāyaṇa, lotus motifs and floral borders, deep blue ground with gold detailing, peacocks at corners, intricate white linework suggesting sound vibrations."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["tanpura drone","single bell strike at start","long Oṃ resonance","silence between repetitions"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: आत्मज्ञानगुणोपेतो → आत्म-ज्ञान-गुण-उपेतः; मोक्षमवाप्नुयात् → मोक्षम् अवाप्नुयात्; अभ्यसेत्सततं → अभ्यसेत् सततम्; प्रणवाख्यं → प्रणव-आख्यम्
FAQs
It recommends constant abhyāsa—steady practice or meditation—on the eternal Praṇava (Oṃ), presented here as the divine reality to be contemplated.
The verse links liberation to a mind endowed with ātmajñāna and directs such a seeker to continual contemplation of Oṃ, implying Oṃ as a support (ālambana) for realizing or stabilizing Self-knowledge.
Consistency and inner discipline: liberation is not framed as a one-time act, but as sustained practice grounded in Self-knowledge and focused contemplation.