Shloka 24
The Tale of Sukalā: Illusion, Desire, and the Testing of a Chaste Wife
within the Vena Cycle
सर्वभोगपतिर्भूत्वा कामलीलासमाकुलः । काममाह समाभाष्य एषा सा सुकुला गता
sarvabhogapatirbhūtvā kāmalīlāsamākulaḥ | kāmamāha samābhāṣya eṣā sā sukulā gatā
Als Herr aller Genüsse geworden und ganz vom Liebesspiel ergriffen, wandte er sich an Kāma und sprach: „Jene edle Jungfrau Sukulā ist fortgegangen.“
Unspecified male figure in the narrative (context needed to identify by name)
Concept: Absorption in pleasure (bhoga) breeds agitation and possessive speech; desire turns persons into objects of pursuit.
Application: When the mind is ‘lord of enjoyments,’ it becomes easily disturbed by loss or separation; practice restraint and redirect attention to service, study, or mantra.
Primary Rasa: shringara
Secondary Rasa: hasya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Inside a perfumed palace chamber, a powerful figure reclines amid silks and ornaments, surrounded by symbols of luxury—wine cups, garlands, and jeweled fans—yet his eyes flicker with anxious longing. He turns toward Kāma, speaking urgently about the maiden Sukulā who has slipped away, while the atmosphere trembles with sensual restlessness.","primary_figures":["unnamed male figure (bhoga-pati)","Kāma"],"setting":"opulent palace interior with carved pillars, draped textiles, scattered flower garlands, and attendants blurred in the background","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["crimson","antique gold","ivory","indigo","jasmine white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: lavish palace scene with the indulgent lord seated on a jeweled couch, heavy gold-leaf ornamentation on pillars and crowns; Kāma standing with sugarcane bow, floral arrows, and a gentle yet provocative expression; rich reds/greens, embossed gold, intricate textile patterns and jewelry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate interior with delicate patterns on carpets and curtains, the speaker leaning toward Kāma in animated conversation; soft shading, refined facial expressions, cool indigo accents, floral motifs and a small window opening to a moonlit garden.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized palace chamber with bold outlines, the bhoga-absorbed figure with exaggerated expressive eyes, Kāma iconographically clear; flat decorative background, dominant reds/yellows/greens, ornamental borders like temple murals.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ornate interior framed by floral borders and lotus medallions; Kāma centered with decorative motifs, the indulgent figure shown amid garlands and patterned textiles; deep blues and gold, intricate repetitive designs, peacocks at the margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["anklet jingles (faint)","silk rustle","low drone (tanpura)","distant laughter fading"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सर्वभोगपति: + भूत्वा → सर्वभोगपतिर्भूत्वा (र्-संधि); कामम् + आह → काममाह (मकार-संधि).
FAQs
“Kāma” here is the deity personifying desire (the god of love), addressed directly as a character within the narrative.
A man, described as engrossed in sensual enjoyment, speaks to Kāma and reports that Sukulā has departed.
It highlights absorption in sense-enjoyment and desire as a driving force in the story, often used in Purāṇic narration to frame later consequences or moral instruction (the immediate lesson depends on surrounding verses).