Shloka 44
The Five Narratives (Pañcākhyāna): Desire, Forbearance, Devotion, and Merit of Hearing
स्नानेन पुष्करे नित्यं भागीरथ्यां च सर्वदा । यत्फलं तदवाप्नोति सकृच्छ्रवणगोचरात्
snānena puṣkare nityaṃ bhāgīrathyāṃ ca sarvadā | yatphalaṃ tadavāpnoti sakṛcchravaṇagocarāt
پشکر میں روزانہ اشنان اور بھاگیرتھی (گنگا) میں ہمیشہ اشنان سے جو ثواب ملتا ہے، وہی پھل اس مقدس بیان کو صرف ایک بار سننے سے حاصل ہو جاتا ہے۔
Unspecified (context-dependent narration within Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa; commonly framed as a sage-to-listener discourse in Purāṇic style)
Concept: Hearing sacred account even once grants the fruit of lifelong tīrtha bathing—inner purification surpasses physical travel.
Application: When travel is impossible, cultivate ‘inner pilgrimage’ through attentive listening, ethical living, and remembrance; treat kathā time as sacred bathing.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Two sacred landscapes appear like mirrored visions: Puṣkara’s serene lake with ghats and Brahmā’s temple, and the swift, luminous Bhāgīrathī flowing from Himalayan heights. In the center, a seated listener hears a recitation; from the sound-waves arise translucent water-ripples that wash over both tīrthas, symbolizing that śravaṇa itself becomes the bath.","primary_figures":["devotee listener","Purāṇika (reciter)","personified Gaṅgā (optional)","Brahmā (iconic presence at Puṣkara, optional)"],"setting":"split-scene sacred geography: Puṣkara lake ghats and Himalayan Gaṅgā banks, unified by a central satsanga","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["turquoise water","himalayan white","sunrise gold","terracotta","sacred vermilion"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: composite sacred panorama—Puṣkara lake with Brahmā temple on one side, Bhāgīrathī with snowy peaks on the other; central reciter and listener under an ornate arch; gold leaf on temple spires, halos, and water highlights; rich reds/greens, jewel-like detailing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical Himalayan riverbank with delicate mountains and a distant Puṣkara lake vignette; fine brushwork on rippling water and ghats; the listener and reciter small yet luminous, soft dawn gradient, refined faces and textiles.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized river goddess Gaṅgā emerging from waves, Puṣkara ghats rendered in rhythmic geometry; central satsanga framed by lotus bands; bold outlines, natural pigments, temple-wall symmetry.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: deep blue river field with lotus motifs; Puṣkara and Gaṅgā represented as sacred vignettes around a central listening devotee; ornate floral borders, gold highlights, peacocks and cows as auspicious fillers, devotional narrative emphasis."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["flowing water","temple bells","conch shell (distant)","birds at dawn"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यत्फलं → यत् + फलम्; तदवाप्नोति → तत् + अवाप्नोति; सकृच्छ्रवणगोचरात् → सकृत् + श्रवणगोचरात् (त् + श् → च्छ्); श्रवणगोचरात् = श्रवण + गोचर (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)
FAQs
It highlights Puṣkara and the Bhāgīrathī (Gaṅgā) as premier tīrthas whose ritual bathing is traditionally praised for producing great merit.
By equating the merit of arduous pilgrimage-bathing with simply hearing the sacred narration once, it elevates accessible devotional practices like śravaṇa (listening) as a powerful spiritual means.
The verse teaches that sincere engagement with sacred teachings (attentive listening) can be spiritually transformative, encouraging faith, humility, and consistent practice even without extensive travel or resources.