Shloka 18
The Account of Sukalā and the Greatness of Nārī-tīrtha
Wife-Assisted Śrāddha and Pitṛ-Liberation
अस्याः सत्येन तुष्टाः स्म दातुकामा वरं तव । समासेन तु तत्प्रोक्तं पूर्ववृत्तांतमेव च
asyāḥ satyena tuṣṭāḥ sma dātukāmā varaṃ tava | samāsena tu tatproktaṃ pūrvavṛttāṃtameva ca
لقد سُرِرْنا بصدقِها، ونحن راغبون في أن نمنحك نعمةً. وباختصارٍ، قد قيل هذا، ومعه ذُكِرَت الحكايةُ السابقة أيضًا.
Unspecified (a plural speaker, likely a group of boon-granting beings addressing 'you')
Concept: Satya is a direct cause of divine satisfaction; when truth is established, grace follows naturally and swiftly.
Application: Let truth be consistent and uncomplicated; when asked to summarize, speak clearly and without distortion—integrity in speech is itself worship.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A chorus of celestial beings speaks in unison, their hands raised in blessing as they declare their satisfaction with her truthfulness. Behind them, faint visual echoes of the ‘earlier account’ appear like translucent panels—past deeds shimmering as proof, while the present moment settles into calm certainty.","primary_figures":["Boon-granting devas (collective)","Gandharvas (collective)","Virtuous wife (implied)","Recipient of boon (addressed as 'tava')"],"setting":"A layered celestial space with cloud-terraces and a central blessing dais; memory-like vignettes floating in the background.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["pale gold","cloud white","amethyst","sea green","soft coral"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a unified row of devas with gold-leaf halos pronouncing a boon, hands in varada mudra; embossed gold background, jewel-toned garments, subtle narrative panels behind them showing earlier events, ornate borders with lotus and conch motifs.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: airy cloud terraces with delicate figures speaking together; translucent background vignettes of earlier deeds, cool pastel palette, fine brushwork, gentle expressions conveying assurance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: grouped devas in rhythmic formation, bold outlines, varada gestures; stylized cloud bands and lotus motifs, warm ochres and reds with green accents, temple-wall narrative clarity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symmetrical celestial chorus framed by intricate floral borders; floating lotus medallions containing ‘previous account’ mini-scenes, deep blue-to-indigo ground with gold highlights and patterned clouds."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["soft conch resonance","choral unison effect","light bell strokes","wind-like tanpura","brief silence after declaration"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तुष्टाः स्म—स्म-निपातेन भूतार्थ-प्रतीति; दातुकामाः—'दातुं कामाः' इति तत्पुरुषः; तत्प्रोक्तं = तत् + प्रोक्तम् (सन्धि); पूर्ववृत्तांतमेव = पूर्ववृत्तान्तम् + एव (अन्त्य-व्यञ्जन-सन्धि/लेखनभेद)।
FAQs
The verse explicitly states that the speakers are pleased by her truthfulness (satya), and therefore are willing to grant a boon.
“Samāsena” means “in brief,” indicating the speakers are summarizing the matter and also referencing the prior narrative (pūrva-vṛttānta).
It teaches that steadfast truthfulness is a dharmic quality that brings divine or authoritative approval, leading to grace or rewards such as the granting of a boon.