Shloka 46
The Tale of Sukalā: Testing Pativratā Fidelity and the Body-as-House Teaching
यावत्तिष्ठति तारुण्यं तावद्भोगान्प्रभुंजते । वयस्यपि गते भद्रे तारुण्ये किं करिष्यति
yāvattiṣṭhati tāruṇyaṃ tāvadbhogānprabhuṃjate | vayasyapi gate bhadre tāruṇye kiṃ kariṣyati
ما دامتِ الشبابُ باقيةً يُستمتع باللذّات؛ فإذا أقبلتِ الشيخوخةُ، يا عزيزتي، فماذا تصنعُ الشبابُ حينئذٍ؟
Unspecified (context-dependent within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa Adhyaya 53; likely a didactic speaker addressing 'bhadre')
Concept: Recognize the fleeting nature of youth; act wisely before decline makes pursuits difficult.
Application: Use periods of strength and clarity to establish sādhana (japa, vrata discipline, charity) rather than postponing spiritual commitments.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A contemplative figure sits beside a fading lotus pond at twilight, watching petals fall as an hourglass-like stream of sand slips through his fingers. In the distance, a youthful dancer’s silhouette dissolves into an elderly shadow, suggesting time’s quiet conquest over pleasure.","primary_figures":["a contemplative sage or householder (generic)","personified Kāla (subtle, shadow-like)"],"setting":"riverbank or lotus pond with a small shrine lamp, scattered fallen lotus petals, and a path leading toward a distant temple","lighting_mood":"moonlit","color_palette":["indigo night","lotus pink","ash gray","lamp-gold","deep teal"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a serene didactic tableau of a seated sage by a lotus pond, a small Vishnu shrine lamp glowing behind him, falling lotus petals symbolizing fading youth; gold leaf halo around the shrine flame, rich crimson and emerald accents, ornate jewelry on a faint personification of Kāla in the background, traditional South Indian iconographic borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a quiet riverside scene with delicate brushwork—sage seated under a tree, lotus pond with drifting petals, distant temple path; cool blues and teals, lyrical naturalism, refined faces, soft Himalayan-like hills, a subtle shadow of Kāla stretching across the ground.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and natural pigments—sage in calm posture near a lotus pond, stylized falling petals, a small lamp-lit Vishnu shrine; characteristic large eyes, red/yellow/green palette with deep indigo background, temple-wall aesthetic.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: lotus motifs dominating the border, a central lamp-lit shrine suggesting Hari as the enduring refuge, petals falling around a contemplative devotee; intricate floral borders, deep blues and gold, peacocks perched quietly, devotional stillness."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","night insects","gentle flowing water","long pauses","distant conch shell"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यावत्तिष्ठति = यावत् + तिष्ठति (त् + त → त्त); तावद्भोगान् = तावत् + भोगान् (त् + भ → द्भ); भोगान्प्रभुञ्जते = भोगान् + प्रभुञ्जते (न् + प → न्प); वयस्यपि = वयसि + अपि; (पादे) वयसि गते = सप्तमी-सप्तमी (locative absolute)
FAQs
It highlights the fleeting nature of youth and urges timely discernment: pleasures are pursued while youth lasts, but once age arrives, youth cannot deliver the same capacity—prompting reflection on priorities and dharma.
By contrasting youth with old age, it underscores impermanence and the limits of bodily enjoyment, encouraging detachment from transient pleasures and a turn toward lasting spiritual aims.
'Bhadre' is a respectful form of address meaning 'dear one' or 'auspicious lady,' signaling a conversational, advisory tone—often used in moral instruction or dialogue.