Shloka 7
Dharma as the Cause of Prosperity and the Signs of a Righteous Death
भवंतं दुःखसंतप्तमिति जानामि सुव्रत । कस्माद्दुःखी भवाञ्जातस्तस्मात्त्वं कारणं वद
bhavaṃtaṃ duḥkhasaṃtaptamiti jānāmi suvrata | kasmādduḥkhī bhavāñjātastasmāttvaṃ kāraṇaṃ vada
يا صاحب النذر الحسن، إني أعلم أنك محترقٌ بنار الحزن. لأي سببٍ صرتَ كئيبًا؟ فحدّثني إذن عن العلّة.
Unspecified (context-dependent interlocutor addressing a 'suvrata')
Concept: Compassionate inquiry and truthful disclosure of suffering are the first steps toward dharmic remedy.
Application: When someone is distressed, ask with gentleness and without judgment; name the cause clearly before seeking solutions (spiritual or practical).
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a quiet hermitage courtyard, a compassionate elder leans forward, reading the grief on a vow-keeping man’s face. The listener’s shoulders droop, eyes lowered, as the question—soft yet piercing—invites confession and healing counsel.","primary_figures":["Cyavana (as compassionate sage figure)","Suvrata (distressed vow-keeper)"],"setting":"Forest āśrama with kusa grass seats, a small fire altar, clay water pots, and flowering creepers; distant deer and peacocks.","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["earthy ochre","leaf green","smoke gray","sandalwood beige","deep maroon"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a serene āśrama scene with Cyavana seated on a carved wooden pīṭha, gold-leaf halo and ornate borders; the sorrowful suvrata kneels with folded hands, rich reds and greens, gem-studded ornaments subdued to reflect grief, lamp-lit altar details and embossed gold foliage motifs.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate brushwork in a Himalayan-forest hermitage; Cyavana’s calm face rendered with refined features, the suvrata’s downcast gaze and softened posture; cool greens and browns, lyrical trees, small birds, and a thin stream in the background.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and natural pigments; expressive eyes conveying compassion and sorrow; āśrama elements—yajña-kuṇḍa, palm-leaf manuscripts—set against red/yellow/green palette, with stylized foliage framing the dialogue.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional border of lotus and tulasi motifs framing an āśrama dialogue; peacocks and floral vines around a central vignette of the sage questioning the devotee; deep blues and gold accents, intricate textile-like patterning."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["forest birds","gentle wind in leaves","soft temple bell in distance","crackling sacrificial fire"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दुःखसंतप्तम् = दुःख + संतप्तम्; कस्माद्दुःखी = कस्मात् + दुःखी; भवाञ्जातः = भवान् + जातः; तस्मात्त्वम् = तस्मात् + त्वम्।
FAQs
It presents a compassionate inquiry: the speaker recognizes another’s sorrow and asks directly for the reason, inviting disclosure of the underlying cause.
No. This śloka is a dialogue line focused on identifying the cause of suffering and does not mention specific deities, tīrthas, or locations.
It models attentive empathy and truthful communication—recognizing another’s distress and seeking the real cause rather than judging or ignoring it.