Shloka 14
Merits of Vitastā, Devikā, Rudrakoṭī and Sarasvatī Sacred Fords
अर्द्धयोजनविस्तारां पंचयोजनमायताम् । एतावद्देविकामाहुः पुण्यां देवर्षिसंमताम्
arddhayojanavistārāṃ paṃcayojanamāyatām | etāvaddevikāmāhuḥ puṇyāṃ devarṣisaṃmatām
دیورشی کہتے ہیں کہ دیوِکا کی پیمائش یہی ہے: چوڑائی آدھا یوجن اور لمبائی پانچ یوجن—یہ نہایت پُنّیہ اور اہلِ بصیرت دیوتاؤں کے نزدیک مقبول ہے۔
Unspecified narrator (contextual voice of the Purāṇic discourse)
Concept: Sacred geography is not random; it is validated by rishis and preserved through precise remembrance.
Application: Treat holy places (and holy habits) with intentionality—know their ‘measure’: boundaries, disciplines, and the right way to approach them.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: river
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A narrow, luminous river named Devikā winds through a Himalayan valley, its course subtly marked by ancient stone boundary-steles indicating sacred measure. Devarṣis hover above in translucent forms, palms joined, as if ‘certifying’ the tīrtha; pilgrims on the bank take water in cupped hands with hushed awe.","primary_figures":["Devikā (personified river goddess)","Devarṣis (divine seers)","Pilgrims/vaidikas with kamaṇḍalu"],"setting":"Himalayan riverbank with carved stones, flowering reeds, distant snow peaks, small shrine with Viṣṇu emblem (śaṅkha-cakra)","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["glacial turquoise","lotus pink","saffron ochre","stone gray","gold leaf"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Devikā as a serene river-goddess rising from turquoise waters, flanked by devarṣis with haloed crowns; gold leaf embellishment on halos, river ripples, and śaṅkha-cakra motifs on a small shrine; rich reds and greens in garments, gem-studded ornaments, symmetrical South Indian iconography framing a Himalayan landscape.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a lyrical Himalayan valley with Devikā as a slender ribbon of water, delicate brushwork on reeds and wildflowers; refined devarṣi faces in soft halos; cool blues and muted greens, with a small pilgrim group performing ācamana on the bank, airy perspective and poetic naturalism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and natural pigments; Devikā personified with large expressive eyes, standing in stylized waves; devarṣis in ochre and green, temple-wall aesthetic borders with lotus and conch motifs; dominant red/yellow/green palette with controlled gold accents.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: riverbank transformed into a lotus-filled tīrtha garden; ornate floral borders, peacocks and cows near the water; central shrine bearing Viṣṇu symbols; deep indigo background with gold highlights, Devikā suggested through flowing lotus stems and shimmering water patterns."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["flowing water","distant birds","soft temple bells","silence between phrases"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अर्द्धयोजनविस्ताराम् = अर्द्ध-योजन-विस्ताराम्; पंचयोजनमायताम् = पञ्च-योजन-मायताम्; एतावद्देविकामाहुः = एतावत् देविकाम् आहुः; देवर्षिसंमताम् = देवर्षि-संमताम्
FAQs
It gives a concrete, traditional measurement for the sacred site Devikā—half a yojana wide and five yojanas long—showing how Purāṇic texts map holiness onto specific, describable landscapes.
By presenting Devikā as “puṇyā” and endorsed by divine seers, it frames pilgrimage and reverent approach to tīrthas as a devotional act—honoring places sanctified by higher spiritual authority.
It teaches trust in tested spiritual testimony: sacred places and practices are to be approached with humility and discernment, valuing what is affirmed by realized sages (devarṣis) rather than mere novelty.