Shloka 15
Praise of the Merits of Sacred Ponds, Tree-Planting, and Water-Charities
दृष्ट्वा च नाशयेत्पापं स्पृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मीं प्रपद्यते । प्रदक्षिणे भवेदायुः सदाश्वत्थ नमोस्तु ते
dṛṣṭvā ca nāśayetpāpaṃ spṛṣṭvā lakṣmīṃ prapadyate | pradakṣiṇe bhavedāyuḥ sadāśvattha namostu te
仅仅瞻见你，罪业便消；触摸你，则得拉克什米（吉祥与富饶）。绕行你一周，寿命增长。噢圣阿湿婆他树，愿我恒常顶礼于你。
Unspecified (verse presented as a devotional/praise statement within the narrative context of Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa 58)
Concept: Progressive sanctification through three modes—seeing, touching, circumambulating—yields pāpa-nāśa, Lakṣmī-prāpti, and āyuḥ-vṛddhi.
Application: Adopt a simple daily triad: respectful gaze (mindful attention), gentle touch (reverent contact), and a few circumambulations (habitual devotion) around a sacred symbol; cultivate gratitude and ethical living as the ‘inner pradakṣiṇā’.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: temple
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee approaches the aśvattha as if it were a temple deity: first a steady, purifying gaze; then a palm placed on the cool bark; then slow pradakṣiṇā along a flower-strewn path. As the devotee circles, a gentle Śrī-Lakṣmī presence seems to bloom in the air—coins of light, lotus fragrance, and a calm, lengthened breath.","primary_figures":["aśvattha tree (deified)","Śrī Lakṣmī (subtle epiphany)","devotee performing pradakṣiṇā"],"setting":"tree-shrine with a circular walkway, rangoli patterns, small oil lamps, and a low altar with lotus flowers","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["lotus pink","emerald green","antique gold","deep maroon","ivory white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central aśvattha with gold-leaf aura, Śrī Lakṣmī appearing on a lotus near the trunk, devotee mid-pradakṣiṇā; heavy gold ornamentation, rich reds/greens, embossed halo patterns, ornate arch-like border framing the tree as a sanctum icon.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate circular movement of the devotee around the pipal, soft floral carpet, Lakṣmī hinted as a translucent lotus-form; cool pastel sky, refined facial expressions, lyrical rhythm of repeated steps.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized aśvattha with symmetrical leaves, Lakṣmī in classic mural iconography (lotus, gold vessels), devotee in añjali; bold outlines, warm reds/yellows/greens, temple-wall composition.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: aśvattha centered within ornate floral borders, lamps and lotuses, Lakṣmī motif integrated with lotus medallions; deep blue background with gold detailing, peacocks and vines encircling the pradakṣiṇā path."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["temple bells","soft conch shell","rustling leaves","low humming of mantra"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नाशयेत्पापम् = नाशयेत् + पापम् (त् + प → त्प); भवेदायुः = भवेत् + आयुः (त् + आ → दा by sandhi in recitation; orthographically ‘भवेद् आयुः’); नमोस्तु = नमः + अस्तु (ः + अ → ओ).
FAQs
It praises devotional acts toward the Aśvattha—seeing it, touching it, and performing pradakṣiṇā (circumambulation)—as spiritually and materially beneficial.
It states that touching the sacred Aśvattha leads to the attainment of Lakṣmī, implying that reverence to sacred embodiments of dharma supports auspicious fortune.
Small, reverent acts—darśana (seeing), sparśa (touch), and pradakṣiṇā—performed with faith can purify wrongdoing and cultivate longevity and well-being.