Shloka 118
Karma, Non-Violence, Tīrtha & Gaṅgā Merit, Vaiṣṇava Protection, Śālagrāma Worship, and Ekādaśī as Deliverance
यः पूजयेद्धरिं चक्रे शालग्रामशिलोद्भवे । राजसूयसहस्रेण तेनेष्टं प्रतिवासरे
yaḥ pūjayeddhariṃ cakre śālagrāmaśilodbhave | rājasūyasahasreṇa teneṣṭaṃ prativāsare
ผู้ใดบูชาพระหริในรูปจักร ซึ่งบังเกิดจากศิลา ศาลคราม—ด้วยการนั้นเสมือนประกอบราชสูยะยัญพันครั้งในทุก ๆ วัน
Unspecified (narratorial/teaching voice within Svarga-khaṇḍa 31)
Concept: Arcā worship of Hari in Śālagrāma-cakra form yields merit surpassing grand sacrificial rites, even daily.
Application: Prefer consistent, sincere daily worship (lamp, water, tulasi, mantra) over performative religiosity; measure spirituality by steadiness and humility rather than expense.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: river
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A radiant cakra emblem rises from a dark Śālagrāma stone on a lotus pedestal, as if self-manifesting, while a devotee offers water and flowers. In the sky behind, faint translucent silhouettes of a thousand royal yajña altars appear like mirages, dissolving into the single, brighter light of Hari’s presence—showing bhakti eclipsing ritual magnitude.","primary_figures":["Devotee worshipper","Śālagrāma-śilā","Cakra (Sudarśana as divine emblem)","Hari (implied, as aura)"],"setting":"Sanctified home/temple altar near a riverbank; visionary sky showing yajña imagery","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["obsidian black","radiant gold","vermillion red","lotus pink","electric blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central Śālagrāma with emerging Sudarśana cakra, heavy gold leaf rays, devotee offering arghya and flowers; background filled with embossed gold motifs of yajña-kuṇḍas symbolizing ‘rājasūya-sahasra’; rich reds/greens, gem-studded ornaments, ornate arch and lamps.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate altar scene with a luminous cakra hovering above Śālagrāma; soft, translucent vignettes of many yajña fires in the sky; cool blues and warm gold highlights, refined figures, lyrical landscape near a river gorge.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold concentric aura around the cakra, stylized Śālagrāma spiral marks; devotee in profile with offering vessel; symbolic yajña fires as repeating motifs in the background; red/yellow/green palette with strong outlines.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central Sudarśana mandala above Śālagrāma on lotus; surrounding ring of miniature yajña-kuṇḍa motifs like a garland; intricate floral borders, deep indigo field with gold and white detailing, symmetrical devotional geometry."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"celebratory","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["conch blast","temple bells","mridangam pulse","chanting chorus","crackling sacred fire (symbolic)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pūjayet + harim → pūjayed dharim (द्-आगमः); tena + iṣṭam → teneṣṭam (स्वर-सन्धि); śālagrāmaśilā + udbhave → śālagrāmaśilodbhave (आ + उ → ओ).
FAQs
The verse praises worship (pūjā) of Hari/Viṣṇu as the cakra associated with the Śālagrāma-śilā, presenting it as exceptionally meritorious.
The comparison is a traditional Purāṇic way of expressing spiritual superlative: devotional worship of Viṣṇu (especially through a revered emblem like Śālagrāma) is said to yield merit surpassing even the most prestigious royal Vedic sacrifices.
It encourages accessible, daily devotion—regular worship offered with faith is portrayed as more spiritually effective than rare, costly ritual performances.