Shloka 19
The Birth and Preservation of Nahuṣa
Guru-tīrtha Greatness within the Vena Episode
वधस्वैनं महापापं बालरूपं रिपुं मम । पश्चात्सूदस्य वै हस्ते भोजनार्थं प्रदीयताम्
vadhasvainaṃ mahāpāpaṃ bālarūpaṃ ripuṃ mama | paścātsūdasya vai haste bhojanārthaṃ pradīyatām
Töte diesen großen Sünder, meinen Feind, der die Gestalt eines Kindes angenommen hat. Danach gib ihn dem Koch in die Hände, zur Speise.
Unspecified (imperative speech by a commanding figure; context needed to identify the named speaker)
Concept: Hatred dehumanizes and collapses moral boundaries; seeing the innocent as ‘enemy’ is the hallmark of āsurī-bhāva.
Application: Watch for narratives that justify cruelty by labeling others as threats; practice compassion and restraint, especially toward the vulnerable.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Type: city
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a harsh-lit asura hall, Huṇḍa points toward a small child, his face twisted with hatred as he issues a death command. Vipulā stands tense, while a grim cook waits near a brazier and knives, the scene saturated with moral horror.","primary_figures":["Huṇḍa (dānava)","Vipulā","asura cook (sūda)","the child (balārūpa)"],"setting":"asura palace kitchen-court hybrid, braziers, iron cauldrons, weaponry, shadowed pillars","lighting_mood":"torch-lit","color_palette":["soot black","iron gray","crimson","sulfur yellow","dull gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: dramatic court-kitchen scene with heavy gold leaf on pillars and throne, Huṇḍa in fierce iconography with gem-studded crown, the child with a small luminous aura, the cook with utensils near a cauldron; rich reds/greens with stark black shadows to heighten moral tension.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: compact interior with fine linework, expressive faces showing cruelty and fear, warm torchlight against cool shadows, detailed textiles and metal vessels, the child rendered delicately to emphasize innocence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, exaggerated demonic features, stylized cauldron and flames, the child centered with contrasting calm expression, strong reds/yellows/greens, temple-wall narrative intensity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: narrative tableau framed by ornate floral borders; central figures arranged like a moral drama, lotus motifs around the child contrasted with thorny vines around the demon; deep blue background with gold detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["sharp drum strokes","metal clang","fire crackle","conch blast (ominous)","crow caw"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वधस्वैनम् = वधस्व + एनम्; पश्चात्सूदस्य = पश्चात् + सूदस्य.
FAQs
The verse itself does not name the speaker; it is a command issued by an authority figure. Identifying the speaker requires the surrounding verses of Bhūmi-khaṇḍa, Adhyaya 105.
A command is given to kill an enemy described as a “great sinner” who appears in a child’s form, and then to deliver the body to a cook for food.
It juxtaposes the claim of righteousness (“great sinner,” “enemy”) with extreme violence and dehumanization (treating the slain as food), raising questions about justified force, deception by appearance, and the limits of punitive action.