Shloka 140
The Greatness of Puṣkara: Tripuṣkara Pilgrimage, Sacred Geography, and the Doctrine of Self-Restraint
तमसाच्छादिते लोके मृत्युनाभ्यर्दिताः प्रजाः । त्वामेव नाथमागम्य निर्वृतिं परमां गताः
tamasācchādite loke mṛtyunābhyarditāḥ prajāḥ | tvāmeva nāthamāgamya nirvṛtiṃ paramāṃ gatāḥ
เมื่อโลกถูกความมืดปกคลุม และหมู่สัตว์ถูกรบกวนด้วยความตาย เขาทั้งหลายมาหาท่านผู้เดียวเป็นนาถ แล้วบรรลุความสงบอันสูงสุด
Unspecified (context-dependent narration within Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa)
Concept: Śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) in the Lord dissolves fear and culminates in paramā nirvṛti (supreme peace).
Application: In anxiety or grief, reduce scattered coping to a single-point refuge: daily nāma-japa, offering of fear itself in prayer, and ethical steadiness as an expression of trust.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A world drowned in primordial darkness: silhouettes of trembling beings gather at the feet of a radiant, four-armed Lord whose aura breaks the black veil like dawn. As they bow, the shadow of Death recedes into the distance, and a lotus-like calm spreads across the cosmos.","primary_figures":["Vishnu (Nārāyaṇa)","terrified prajās (beings)","personified Mṛtyu (Death)"],"setting":"Cosmic expanse at the edge of creation-night, with faint stars, swirling tamas, and a luminous lotus-throne emerging from the gloom.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["sapphire blue","ink black","lotus pink","gold leaf","pearl white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Vishnu as Jagannātha seated on a lotus throne, four arms with śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma, heavy gold leaf halo bursting through a dark tamas background; frightened prajās in folded hands at the bottom register; personified Mṛtyu fading at the edge; rich vermilion and emerald borders, gem-studded ornaments, ornate arch (prabhāmaṇḍala) with gold embossing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a lyrical cosmic night scene with deep indigo wash; delicate figures of supplicants clustered near a softly glowing Vishnu; subtle gradations of darkness turning to dawn; refined faces, thin gold lines for aura, minimalistic stars, gentle mist-like tamas receding.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and flat natural pigments; Vishnu with large expressive eyes and elaborate crown, radiant yellow-gold aura against a near-black background; prajās in simplified devotional poses; stylized lotus motifs and rhythmic cloud bands representing tamas dissolving.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central Vishnu on a lotus with concentric floral borders; tamas rendered as deep blue textile field; golden lotuses and white jasmine-like dots as stars; devotees at the lower band; intricate vine work, symmetrical composition, rich blues and gold with temple-like framing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["low temple bell","conch shell (distant)","silence between pādas","soft drone (tanpura)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तमसाच्छादिते = तमसा + आच्छादिते; मृत्युनाभ्यर्दिताः = मृत्युना + अभ्यर्दिताः; त्वामेव = त्वाम् + एव; नाथमागम्य = नाथम् + आगम्य
FAQs
The term prajāḥ broadly means living beings or subjects—creatures in the world who suffer under cosmic conditions such as darkness (tamas) and death (mṛtyu).
It highlights single-point refuge—'tvām eva' (you alone)—showing that approaching the Lord as protector leads to 'paramā nirvṛti' (supreme peace), a classic bhakti theme.
In times of fear and suffering, one should seek the highest refuge rather than despair; turning toward the divine protector is presented as the way to peace and release from distress.