Shloka 17
Yayāti Ensnared by Desire: Gandharva Marriage, Aśvamedha, and the Demand to See the Worlds
कंदर्पस्य प्रपंचेन इंद्रस्यार्थे महामते । सुकर्मोवाच । एवं पिप्पल राजासौ ययातिः पृथिवीपतिः
kaṃdarpasya prapaṃcena iṃdrasyārthe mahāmate | sukarmovāca | evaṃ pippala rājāsau yayātiḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ
أيها الحكيم، بمكر كاما ولأجل غاية إندرا—قال سوكارما—هكذا يُروى خبر ذلك الملك بيبالا، يَياتي، سيد الأرض.
Sukarmā
Concept: Worldly power—earthly or celestial—may employ desire as a tool; discernment is needed to avoid becoming an instrument of others’ agendas.
Application: Before acting on strong attraction or impulse, ask: ‘Who benefits from this?’ and re-center with prayer, restraint, and ethical counsel.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A split-scene of celestial strategy: Indra in his jeweled court gestures anxiously while Kāma (Kandarpā) strings a flower-bow, releasing an unseen ‘prapañca’ toward the earthly king. Below, Yayāti (also called Pippala here) is shown as the target of the enchantment, a faint floral arrow-line connecting realms.","primary_figures":["Sukarmā (narrator-sage)","Indra","Kāma/Kandarpā (Manmatha)","Yayāti (Pippala)"],"setting":"Upper register: Indra’s svarga sabhā with apsaras and kalpavriksha; lower register: earthly palace/garden where the king is ensnared.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["celestial gold","electric blue","jasmine white","ruby red","leaf green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: two-tier composition—Indra’s court above with gold leaf architecture and gem-like detailing, Kāma with floral bow poised; below, Yayāti in a pleasure-garden; a stylized floral ‘arrow’ motif links the tiers; rich reds/greens, embossed gold borders, traditional iconography for Indra (vajra) and Kāma (sugarcane bow/flower arrows).","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: elegant svarga pavilion with delicate figures, soft clouds and kalpavriksha, Kāma as youthful archer; below, a refined earthly garden scene; subtle narrative connector (a garland-like line) indicating the contrivance; cool palette with bright accents.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold, iconic Indra with vajra, Kāma with flower arrows, Sukarmā as sage at the side speaking; lower panel shows Yayāti; strong outlines and flat pigments, ornamental creeper borders emphasizing ‘prapañca’.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ornate floral borders and lotus medallions; depict Kāma’s flower-arrow motif prominently, Indra’s court stylized with gold stars on deep blue; lower vignette of the king in a garden; peacocks and creepers amplify the theme of desire as a net."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["celestial drums (dundubhi)","soft laughter of apsaras (subtle)","wind through trees","single conch accent"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इन्द्रस्यार्थे = इन्द्रस्य + अर्थे (यण्-सन्धि: अ + अ → आ). सुकर्मोवाच = सुकर्मा + उवाच (आ + उ → ओ). राजासौ = राजा + असौ (आ + अ → आ; संधि-लोप/दीर्घ).
FAQs
The verse explicitly marks the speaker with “सुकर्मोवाच (sukarmovāca)”, meaning “Sukarmā said.”
It indicates a stratagem or contrivance associated with Kāma (Kandarpā), suggesting that events are being driven by desire’s agency or a love-induced plot rather than straightforward action.
The verse frames a narrative where Indra’s purpose is advanced through Kāma’s contrivance, and it transitions into the account involving King Pippala and Yayāti, indicating a connected storyline or exemplum within the chapter.