Shloka 32
Narrative of King Pṛthu: Chastising and Milking the Earth
महता कृच्छ्रेण तासामाहारश्च द्विजोत्तमाः । पृथुर्वैन्यः समालोक्य प्रजानां कष्टमेव हि
mahatā kṛcchreṇa tāsāmāhāraśca dvijottamāḥ | pṛthurvainyaḥ samālokya prajānāṃ kaṣṭameva hi
O ihr Besten der Brahmanen, ihre Nahrung wurde nur unter großer Mühsal erlangt. Als Pṛthu Vainya das Leiden der Menschen sah, schaute er auf ihre Not.
Unspecified narrator (dialogue context not provided in the input excerpt)
Concept: A ruler’s dharma is to perceive the people’s suffering and act to remove it; compassion becomes governance.
Application: Notice distress in one’s dependents (family, team, community) and respond with concrete support rather than indifference.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A drought-stricken kingdom lies under a pale sky: cracked earth, withered fields, and villagers carrying empty baskets. King Pṛthu stands on a raised terrace, gaze heavy with compassion, surrounded by anxious elders and brāhmaṇas, as he resolves to restore abundance.","primary_figures":["King Pṛthu (Pṛthu Vainya)","brāhmaṇas","suffering subjects"],"setting":"royal courtyard overlooking parched farmlands; distant huts and barren furrows","lighting_mood":"dusty overcast with a faint hopeful break in the clouds","color_palette":["ochre earth","ash gray","muted indigo","saffron cloth","bronze highlights"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: King Pṛthu in regal posture on a palace terrace, haloed with subtle gold leaf, richly patterned red-green textiles, gem-studded crown; below, villagers with empty grain baskets and cracked fields; ornate arch framing the scene, gold leaf emphasizing the king’s compassionate gaze and royal insignia.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a lyrical yet somber landscape of dry fields and thin trees, delicate linework on villagers’ faces, Pṛthu in refined attire with restrained ornamentation; cool gray-blue sky with a small opening of light, Himalayan-style rolling hills faintly in the distance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, earthy pigments; Pṛthu with large expressive eyes and stylized crown, attendants and brāhmaṇas in rhythmic composition; parched earth rendered in warm ochres, a symbolic cloud motif above hinting at impending restoration.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: narrative panel with ornate floral borders; the kingdom’s scarcity shown through empty granaries and drooping lotuses; Pṛthu centered as dharmic protector, peacocks subdued in posture; deep indigo border with gold detailing to foreshadow forthcoming abundance."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["dry wind","distant lament","temple bell (soft)","brief silence between pādas"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तासामाहारश्च = तासाम् + आहारः + च; पृथुर्वैन्यः = पृथुः + वैन्यः. 'द्विजोत्तमाः' प्रथमा-बहुवचनरूपं, परन्तु सम्बोधनार्थे (हे द्विजोत्तम) इति प्रयोगः सामान्यः।
FAQs
It describes a time when people could obtain food only with great hardship, and King Pṛthu (Vainya) observes their distress.
A ruler should be attentive to the suffering of the subjects and respond compassionately; noticing public distress is presented as a kingly duty aligned with dharma.
Pṛthu, called Vainya as the son/descendant of Vena, is a paradigmatic righteous king in Purāṇas, often associated with restoring prosperity and order for his people.