Shloka 31
Tīrtha-Māhātmya of the Sarasvatī Region and the Praise of Kurukṣetra
Pilgrimage Merits
पुनात्या सप्तमं चैव कुलं नास्त्यत्र संशयः । ततो गच्छेत राजेंद्र तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम्
punātyā saptamaṃ caiva kulaṃ nāstyatra saṃśayaḥ | tato gaccheta rājeṃdra tīrthaṃ trailokyaviśrutam
یہ اپنے خاندان کی ساتویں پشت تک کو پاک کر دیتا ہے—اس میں کوئی شک نہیں۔ پھر اے راجندر! تینوں لوکوں میں مشہور اس تیرتھ کی طرف روانہ ہو۔
Unspecified (narrative instruction addressed to a king, 'rājendra')
Concept: Merit is transmissible: tīrtha-sevā purifies not only the pilgrim but the family line, affirming dharmic continuity across generations.
Application: Perform acts of purification (pilgrimage, charity, japa) with the intention of benefiting ancestors and descendants; dedicate merit (puṇya-samarpaṇa) for family healing.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal pilgrim-king pauses at a crossroads where a celestial signboard of light points toward a ‘trilokya-viśruta’ tīrtha. Behind him, faint ancestral silhouettes—seven generations—stand in a luminous arc, gradually brightening as the journey begins.","primary_figures":["king (rājendra)","ancestral figures (pitṛs)","tīrtha-guardian deity (subtle)"],"setting":"Pilgrimage road with banyan trees, milestone shrine, distant river/ford hinted, banners fluttering with sacred symbols.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["royal maroon","antique gold","ash white","turquoise","leaf green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: rājendra in regal attire receiving direction toward a famed tīrtha; seven ancestral figures behind in smaller scale with gold leaf halos; ornate borders, rich reds/greens, embossed gold for divine signage, temple arch framing the scene.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a king on pilgrimage with attendants, moving through a gentle landscape; translucent ancestors in the sky like watercolor veils; delicate linework, cool palette, lyrical trees and distant ford, refined facial features.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: frontal king figure with stylized ornaments; ancestors as a tiered register above; bold outlines, flat yet vibrant pigments, sacred symbols marking the path to the tīrtha.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: processional pilgrimage motif with floral borders; seven ancestor medallions around the central king; deep blue ground with gold highlights, lotus and creeper patterns, devotional textile symmetry."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["footsteps on earth","pilgrim chants","temple bells (intermittent)","wind through trees"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पुनात्या is read as पुनाति + (metrical elongation/orthographic variant); नास्त्यत्र = न + अस्ति + अत्र; राजेंद्र = राजेन्द्र; त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम् = त्रैलोक्य + विश्रुतम्.
FAQs
It states that the merit associated with this act/place is so powerful that it purifies one’s lineage up to the seventh generation, emphasizing transgenerational spiritual benefit.
It signals exceptional sacred status: the tīrtha’s fame and efficacy are portrayed as universally acknowledged across the cosmic realms, marking it as especially potent for pilgrimage.
After describing the purificatory effect, it instructs the addressed king to proceed to a celebrated pilgrimage site—presenting tīrtha-yātrā as a recommended religious action.