Shloka 107
The Greatness of Puṣkara: Tripuṣkara Pilgrimage, Sacred Geography, and the Doctrine of Self-Restraint
च्यवनस्याश्रमं गत्वा पुण्यं द्विजनिषेवितम् । फलमूलाशनानां हि मुनीनां भक्षितं शतं
cyavanasyāśramaṃ gatvā puṇyaṃ dvijaniṣevitam | phalamūlāśanānāṃ hi munīnāṃ bhakṣitaṃ śataṃ
চ্যবন ঋষির পবিত্র, দ্বিজসেবিত আশ্রমে গিয়ে সেখানে ফল‑মূলভোজী মুনিরা শত পরিমাণ আহার ভক্ষণ করলেন।
Unspecified narrator (context-dependent within Adhyaya 19)
Concept: Holiness (puṇyatva) is not merely a label; it demands protection and right conduct—its violation is a grave moral inversion.
Application: Cultivate reverence for ascetic simplicity (fruit-and-root subsistence) and avoid exploiting the gentle; protect sacred communities from predatory forces.
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: forest
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A serene hermitage clearing—once filled with the quiet rhythm of fruit-gathering and root-cooking—now stands ravaged. The attackers’ footprints cut through sacred kuśa mats, while the sages’ simple leaf-bowls and water-pots lie overturned near a small shrine, emphasizing the contrast between ascetic purity and violent consumption.","primary_figures":["Dānavas","Munis (phala-mūlāśin sages)","Cyavana (as a distant, iconic presence or implied by hermitage markers)"],"setting":"Forest clearing with fruit trees, roots drying on mats, a small altar, and a path frequented by dvijas","lighting_mood":"cold pre-dawn gloom with faint mist","color_palette":["mist gray","leaf green","earth brown","pale saffron","deep maroon"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Cyavana’s holy āśrama depicted with ornate shrine elements and gold-leaf highlights on ritual vessels; ascetic simplicity shown through muted garments and natural textures; dānava figures rendered with dramatic posture and dark tones; rich reds/greens with gold accents to heighten the sacrilege of a sacred place violated.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical forest with fruit-laden trees and delicate mist; sages with refined faces and minimal possessions; the violence suggested through scattered objects and retreating shadowy figures rather than explicit gore; cool palette with subtle warm highlights on sacred fire remnants.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized forest and altar with bold outlines; demons in dynamic motion; sages in restrained, dignified forms; natural pigment palette (reds, yellows, greens) against a darkened background to convey moral contrast.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic hermitage framed by intricate floral borders and lotus motifs; overturned leaf-bowls and kamaṇḍalus arranged like a disrupted pattern; deep blues and gold; peacocks and forest flora at margins; emphasis on sacred order disturbed."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["wind gusts","rustling leaves","distant animal cries","crack of branches","sudden hush"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: cyavanasyāśramaṃ -> cyavanasya + āśramaṃ (Savarna Dirgha)
FAQs
Cyavana is a revered Vedic sage (ṛṣi), frequently associated in Sanskrit tradition with ascetic power and hermitage life; here his āśrama is presented as a sacred, Brahmin-frequented place.
It indicates the hermitage is regularly visited and served by the “twice-born” (primarily Brahmins), marking it as ritually reputable and spiritually meritorious.
It points to ascetic simplicity—sages living on fruits and roots—highlighting restraint, non-excess, and disciplined living as supportive of spiritual practice.