Shloka 65
The Tale of Sukalā: Testing Pativratā Fidelity and the Body-as-House Teaching
बाह्याभ्यंतरमेवापि रसैः सर्वैः प्रपोषयेत् । तेन पोषणभावेन परिपुष्टः प्रजायते
bāhyābhyaṃtaramevāpi rasaiḥ sarvaiḥ prapoṣayet | tena poṣaṇabhāvena paripuṣṭaḥ prajāyate
Man soll das Äußere wie auch das Innere mit allen lebensspendenden Essenzen nähren; durch eben diese Tat und Gesinnung des Nährens wird das Wesen völlig gestärkt und wohl entwickelt.
Unspecified (context not provided for dialogue attribution)
Concept: Sustained nourishment of both outer life and inner being produces true strength and completeness.
Application: Care for the body with moderation and purity while also feeding the inner life through japa, study, and sattvic habits; avoid one-sided asceticism that weakens service-capacity.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A serene āśrama courtyard where a sage teaches the principle of nourishing both the outer body and the inner self. One side shows offerings of wholesome grains, fruits, and water; the other shows a quiet lamp-lit meditation space with japa-mālā and a lotus symbolizing inner rasa.","primary_figures":["a Vaishnava sage-teacher","a listening king or householder disciple","attendants with offering trays"],"setting":"forest hermitage with a small shrine to Viṣṇu, tulasī planter nearby, and a calm water pot (kalaśa) placed before the teacher","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["lotus pink","saffron ochre","leaf green","sandalwood beige","golden amber"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a seated Vaishnava sage instructing a respectful king in an āśrama courtyard, Viṣṇu shrine in the background with gold-leaf halo motifs, ornate borders, rich vermilion and emerald textiles, gem-studded ornaments on the king, offerings of fruits and grains rendered with luminous highlights, subtle lotus patterns symbolizing inner nourishment.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate hermitage scene at dawn, cool greens and soft pinks, a sage gesturing toward two spaces—an offering tray and a meditation lamp—refined faces, slender trees, distant hills, lyrical naturalism emphasizing balance of outer and inner cultivation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and natural pigments, sage and disciple in frontal composure, stylized tulasī pot and Viṣṇu emblem behind, warm red-yellow-green palette, large expressive eyes, rhythmic decorative foliage framing the teaching of nourishment.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic composition with a central lotus and lamp, surrounding panels showing sattvic foods and japa-mālā, intricate floral borders, deep indigo background with gold detailing, subtle Vaishnava iconography (śaṅkha-cakra) indicating inner devotion as the finest ‘rasa’."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","gentle silence","distant birds","low drone (tanpura)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: बाह्याभ्यंतरमेवापि = बाह्याभ्यन्तरम् + एव + अपि.
FAQs
It points to holistic well-being: caring for the physical body (outer) while also sustaining the inner faculties—mind, vitality, and character—through proper, life-supporting “essences” (rasa).
It suggests using all nourishing factors—nutritive juices/essences and supportive inputs—so that strength and completeness (paripuṣṭa) arise through comprehensive nourishment.
It teaches that growth and robustness come from a deliberate commitment to nourishment and support—cultivating conditions that strengthen both one’s life and one’s inner disposition.