Shloka 26
The Story of Sukalā
Episode: Ugrasena and Padmāvatī’s Return to Vidarbha
सुखं तु पितृगेहस्य दुर्लभं श्वशुरे गृहे । एवं ज्ञात्वा तदा रेमे कदा ईदृग्भविष्यति
sukhaṃ tu pitṛgehasya durlabhaṃ śvaśure gṛhe | evaṃ jñātvā tadā reme kadā īdṛgbhaviṣyati
পিতৃগৃহৰ দৰে সুখ শ্বশুৰগৃহত দুষ্প্ৰাপ্য। এই কথা জানি তাই তেতিয়া মন ধৰি থাকিল আৰু ভাবিলে—“এনে অৱস্থা পুনৰ কেতিয়া হ’ব?”
Unspecified narrator (context-dependent within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa Adhyaya 48)
Concept: Worldly happiness is contingent; one must meet life’s transitions with discernment and steadiness.
Application: Acknowledge nostalgia without being ruled by it; build contentment through service, prayer, and realistic expectations in new environments.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: city
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A young woman stands at the threshold of a grand but unfamiliar household, her gaze turned back in memory toward a softer, distant home. Her hands clasp a small keepsake, and her expression blends longing with composed acceptance.","primary_figures":["Sukalā (or the heroine)"],"setting":"Courtyard of the father-in-law’s house—ornate pillars, formal order—contrasted with a faint, dreamlike vignette of her parental home in the background.","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["muted maroon","ivory","smoky blue","antique gold","leaf green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: threshold scene with the heroine in the foreground, ornate mandapa pillars, gold leaf detailing on architecture, a subtle inset ‘memory’ panel of her parental home behind her, rich reds and greens, heavy jewelry rendered with gem-like highlights, devotional calm despite sorrow.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate emotional portrait—heroine near a courtyard doorway, delicate facial expression of longing, soft pastel architecture, a distant hazy home across fields, fine brushwork emphasizing mood and restraint.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized courtyard with bold outlines, heroine with large contemplative eyes, warm earthy pigments, ornamental borders suggesting domestic dharma, mood of quiet endurance.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic composition—two architectural halves (maika and sasurāl) separated by a floral border, heroine centered with lotus motifs, deep blue ground with gold accents, peacocks subdued to match the melancholic tone."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["soft ankle bells","courtyard ambience","distant women’s chatter","brief silence between lines"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पितृगेहस्य = पितृ + गेहस्य; ज्ञात्वा (no sandhi); ईदृग्भविष्यति = ईदृक् + भविष्यति (क् + भ → ग्भ)
FAQs
It contrasts the ease and emotional security of one’s parental home with the relative difficulty of finding the same comfort in the in-laws’ household, highlighting a social-ethical reality within household life.
Yes. By stating “knowing thus,” it implies discernment and emotional maturity—accepting circumstances without losing inner steadiness, a practical dharmic lesson for navigating family dynamics.
The verse, as provided, does not explicitly name a speaker; it reads like narrative observation. Identifying the exact speaker requires the surrounding verses of Bhūmi-khaṇḍa 48.