Shloka 86
The Lakṣmī–Nārāyaṇa Vow Narrative
Puṣya Thursday Observance and the Ethics of Fortune
सर्वपापैर्विनिर्मुक्तो लक्ष्मीलोकं लभेच्च सः । इमां व्रतकथां या तु न श्रुत्वा क्रियते व्रतम् । तस्या व्रतफलं चैव नश्यत्येव न संशयः
sarvapāpairvinirmukto lakṣmīlokaṃ labhecca saḥ | imāṃ vratakathāṃ yā tu na śrutvā kriyate vratam | tasyā vrataphalaṃ caiva naśyatyeva na saṃśayaḥ
ผู้ใดพ้นจากบาปทั้งปวง ย่อมได้ถึงโลกของพระลักษมี แต่ถ้าประพฤติวรตะโดยมิได้ฟังเรื่องราวแห่งวรตะนี้ก่อน ผลแห่งวรตะนั้นย่อมเสื่อมสูญแน่นอน—ไม่ต้องสงสัย
Unspecified narrator (context-dependent within Brahma-khaṇḍa; verse states the phala-śruti of the vrata-kathā)
Concept: Vrata bears fruit when performed with śravaṇa (hearing) of its kathā; ritual without the prescribed devotional narrative loses efficacy.
Application: Before undertaking any vow, charity, or observance, learn its intent, story, and rules from a trustworthy source; pair action with attentive listening/recitation to align motivation and method.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee sits before a small altar, hands folded, listening as a sage recites a vrata-kathā from palm-leaf manuscripts. Behind them, a luminous celestial vista opens—Lakṣmīloka—where Śrī Lakṣmī stands on a lotus, extending a blessing, while shadowy, crumbling fruits of an improperly done vow dissolve at the edge of the scene.","primary_figures":["Śrī Lakṣmī","a vrata-kathā reciting sage","a listening devotee"],"setting":"Temple mandapa with oil lamps, palm-leaf manuscripts, lotus motifs; a visionary portal to a lotus-filled celestial realm.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit merging into divine radiance","color_palette":["lotus pink","gold leaf","deep vermilion","emerald green","sapphire blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Śrī Lakṣmī on a full-bloom lotus within a radiant aureole, gold leaf heavily embossed on crown, halo, and lotus petals; foreground shows a sage reading a palm-leaf vrata-kathā to a kneeling devotee, with ornate temple pillars, rich reds and greens, gem-studded ornaments, and traditional South Indian iconography; subtle vignette of a fading, cracked ritual offering symbolizing lost phala when kathā is not heard.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: an intimate mandapa scene with delicate brushwork—sage reciting from manuscripts, devotee listening with folded hands; in the background a lyrical, misty vision of Lakṣmīloka with lotus ponds and soft clouds, refined facial features, cool pinks and blues, and fine textile patterns; emphasis on narrative clarity and gentle moral contrast.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and natural pigments; Śrī Lakṣmī centered with large expressive eyes, lotus throne, and stylized floral borders; to one side, the sage’s recitation and the devotee’s attentive śravaṇa; warm red/yellow/green palette with lamp-lit ambience and temple-wall aesthetic.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: lotus-heavy composition with ornate floral borders; Śrī Lakṣmī amid lotus ponds and golden lotuses, attendants holding lamps; lower register shows the vrata-kathā hearing scene with manuscript and offerings; deep blues, gold accents, intricate patterns, and devotional symmetry."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["temple bells","soft mridanga pulse","conch shell (distant)","lamp crackle","silence between verses"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सर्वपापैर्विनिर्मुक्तो = सर्वपापैः + विनिर्मुक्तः (ः + व् → र्व्). लभेच्च = लभेत् + च (त् + च → च्च). नश्यत्येव = नश्यति + एव (इ + ए → ये).
FAQs
It frames śravaṇa (hearing the sacred account) as an essential limb of the observance; without it, the vow lacks its intended devotional and dharmic orientation, and its promised merit is said to fail.
It indicates a blessed posthumous state or divine realm associated with Lakṣmī—symbolizing prosperity, auspiciousness, and divine favor as the reward of properly performed observance.
It teaches diligence and sincerity: one should learn the meaning, procedure, and sacred context of a religious practice rather than treating it as a mechanical ritual.