Shloka 35
Supremacy of Hari-Bhakti in Kali-yuga; Warnings on Sensual Attachment; Praise of Brāhmaṇas, Purāṇa-Listening, and Gaṅgā
जनार्द्दनांघ्रिसेवा हि ह्यपुनर्भवदायिनी । नारीणां योनिसेवा हि योनिसंकटकारिणी
janārddanāṃghrisevā hi hyapunarbhavadāyinī | nārīṇāṃ yonisevā hi yonisaṃkaṭakāriṇī
جناردن کے قدموں کی خدمت ہی اپونربھَو—یعنی دوبارہ جنم سے نجات—عطا کرتی ہے؛ مگر عورتوں کے ساتھ یونی سیوا، یعنی شہوانی خدمت، یونی سنکٹ—رحم کی مصیبت اور بار بار پیدائش کی الجھن—پیدا کرتی ہے۔
Unspecified (context-dependent within Svargakhaṇḍa 3.61 dialogue)
Concept: Sevā at Vishnu’s feet leads to apunarbhava (non-return), whereas sensual fixation perpetuates womb-bound samsara.
Application: Replace compulsive sense-seeking with daily acts of devotion—japa, pūjā, service to devotees, and conscious restraint; treat desire as a cue to redirect attention to Govinda.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee kneels at the luminous feet of Janārdana, hands folded, while behind him a shadowy wheel of births turns—wombs depicted as dim, enclosing chambers fading into mist. The divine feet radiate a path of lotus petals leading upward, contrasting with the heavy, iron-like pull of sensual attachment below.","primary_figures":["Janārdana (Vishnu)","a human seeker","personified Samsara (subtle, shadow form)"],"setting":"A liminal cosmic threshold—half temple sanctum with lamp-lit pillars, half dreamlike samsaric void with a turning wheel motif.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["sapphire blue","lotus pink","antique gold","smoky indigo","ivory white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Janārdana seated with one foot extended in blessing, the devotee touching the feet; heavy gold leaf halo, embossed lotus motifs, rich vermilion and emerald borders, gem-studded ornaments; in the lower register, a subdued samsara-wheel with dark tones, rendered as a moral contrast panel.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate Janārdana with soft facial features, the devotee at his feet on a terrace-like sanctum; behind, a misty symbolic wheel of rebirth and faint womb-forms in cool blues; lyrical naturalism, fine linework, gentle gradients, minimal gold accents.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, Janārdana in deep blue with yellow-red-green garment blocks, large expressive eyes; the devotee in añjali; a stylized chakra-like samsara wheel in the background with earthy reds and dark greens; temple-wall aesthetic with ornamental creepers.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Vishnu-centered composition with lotus borders and ornate floral vines; the devotee at the feet amid a carpet of lotuses; peacocks at the edges; deep indigo ground with gold highlights; symbolic samsara wheel subtly woven into the border pattern as a cautionary motif."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["temple bells","low conch shell","soft drone (tanpura)","brief silence after the warning line"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: जनार्द्दनांघ्रिसेवा → जनार्दन-अङ्घ्रि-सेवा; ह्यपुनर्भवदायिनी → हि + अपुनर्भव-दायिनी; योनिसंकटकारिणी → योनि-संकट-कारिणी
FAQs
It contrasts two paths: devotion expressed as service to Viṣṇu (Janārdana), which leads toward liberation, versus sensual indulgence, which leads to further bondage and repeated birth.
Apunarbhava literally means “non-return,” i.e., freedom from rebirth (mokṣa or release from saṃsāra).
It encourages vairāgya (dispassion) and disciplined living, presenting devotion and service to God as spiritually elevating while warning against attachment-driven sensuality as a cause of continued suffering and rebirth.