Shloka 31
The Tale of Sukalā: Illusion, Desire, and the Testing of a Chaste Wife
within the Vena Cycle
पूर्वदृष्टा यदा नारी तामेव परिचिंतयेत् । चिंत्यमानस्य पुंसस्तु नार्यारूपं पुनःपुनः
pūrvadṛṣṭā yadā nārī tāmeva pariciṃtayet | ciṃtyamānasya puṃsastu nāryārūpaṃ punaḥpunaḥ
"عندما يرى الرجل امرأة من قبل، يظل يفكر فيها وحدها؛ وبالنسبة لذلك الرجل المستغرق في مثل هذه الأفكار، تظهر صورة المرأة مراراً وتكراراً."
Unspecified (narrative instruction within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa; likely within a Pulastya–Bhīṣma style discourse, but not inferable from the single verse alone)
Concept: Repeated mental dwelling (cintana) strengthens saṃskāras; the mind recreates forms again and again, binding the thinker.
Application: Notice repetitive thought-loops; replace them with mantra-japa, scriptural reading, and intentional attention training.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A solitary man sits beneath a tree, eyes half-closed, while translucent images of the same woman’s face arise repeatedly like reflections in rippling water around his head. The scene emphasizes inner cinema—thought-forms looping—contrasted with a small lamp of discernment placed beside him, suggesting the possibility of redirecting the mind.","primary_figures":["A contemplative man (generic)","A recurring thought-form of a woman (mental image)"],"setting":"Quiet forest edge near a still pond; reeds and lotus leaves mirror the theme of reflection and repetition.","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["soft green","pond blue","lotus pink","warm amber","earth brown"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Seated figure in meditation posture with stylized thought-aura containing repeated feminine visage motifs; gold leaf used for the aura and the small lamp of viveka; rich reds and greens, ornate border, devotional didactic composition.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: Lyrical forest with delicate foliage, a calm pond reflecting faint repeated faces; refined facial features, gentle washes, cool natural palette, subtle emotional restraint.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Bold outlines for the seated figure; repeated face motifs in a circular thought-halo; natural pigments with strong greens and yellows, temple-wall didactic clarity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Central seated figure framed by lotus borders; repeated face motifs arranged like petals around the head; deep blue pond band at bottom, intricate floral filigree, gold accents highlighting the ‘mind-lotus’ theme."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["flowing water","birds","soft temple bell","silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tām+eva→tāmeva; puṃsaḥ+tu→puṃsastu; nāryā+rūpam→nāryārūpam; punaḥ+punaḥ retained as repetition.
FAQs
It describes how a prior perception (seeing someone) can become a persistent mental impression, causing the mind to repeatedly recreate the same image.
It implicitly warns that indulging in obsessive contemplation strengthens attachment; therefore, guarding attention and redirecting thought is part of ethical self-control.
No. This verse is primarily about mental fixation and recurring imagery; any devotional application would be interpretive rather than explicit here.