Shloka 88
Yayāti’s Summons to Heaven and the Teaching on Old Age, the Five-Element Body, and Self–Body Discernment
दृष्टा श्रुता तु या नारी तच्चित्तो भ्रमते सदा । तृप्तिर्न जायते काये लोलुपे चित्तवर्त्मनि
dṛṣṭā śrutā tu yā nārī taccitto bhramate sadā | tṛptirna jāyate kāye lolupe cittavartmani
Wenn der Geist eines Mannes an einer Frau haftet—sei es, dass er sie sah oder nur von ihr hörte—irrt er stets umher; in einem von Gier getriebenen Leib, auf dem rastlosen Pfad des Geistes, entsteht niemals Genüge.
Unspecified (context not provided; likely a didactic narrator/teacher voice within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa)
Concept: Sense-fixation (especially kāma) produces perpetual mental wandering; greed-driven embodiment cannot yield contentment.
Application: Treat attraction as a passing vṛtti: pause, redirect attention to japa/naam, reduce triggers, and cultivate sattvic routines (fasting days, regulated diet, sacred reading) to restore contentment.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A contemplative ascetic sits beside a still lotus pond while a distant, alluring figure appears only as a faint silhouette—half-seen, half-heard—symbolizing temptation. From the ascetic’s chest, a small flame of desire rises into smoky spirals that turn into restless birds circling the head, while a calm lotus remains untouched in the water.","primary_figures":["a contemplative sage (nīti-upadeśaka)","a symbolic male seeker","a distant feminine silhouette as māyā/viṣaya"],"setting":"forest hermitage near a lotus pond with a simple thatched hut, prayer beads, and palm-leaf manuscripts","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["sandalwood beige","smoke gray","lotus pink","deep indigo","antique gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a seated sage teaching restraint beside a lotus pond, the ‘fire of desire’ rendered as stylized gold flames near the heart, ornate halo around the sage, gold leaf embellishment on lotuses and ornaments, rich vermilion and emerald accents, traditional South Indian iconographic symmetry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a quiet hermitage scene with delicate brushwork, a lotus pond and soft hills, the mind’s wandering shown as small birds swirling above the seeker’s head, cool palette with lyrical naturalism, refined faces and gentle gestures of instruction.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, natural pigments, a didactic sage with large expressive eyes, stylized flame motif at the chest, lotus pond and forest rendered in red/yellow/green blocks, temple-wall aesthetic and rhythmic composition.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: lotus-filled pond with intricate floral borders, symbolic ‘restless mind’ as repeated bird motifs, deep blues and gold, devotional undertone with a small Vishnu emblem (shankha-chakra) subtly placed to indicate the remedy—bhakti."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["silence","soft temple bells","distant birds","gentle wind through leaves"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तच्चित्तो = तत् + चित्तः; तृप्तिर्न = तृप्तिः + न.
FAQs
It says that once the mind fixates on an object of desire—even through sight or mere hearing—the mind keeps roaming, and genuine satisfaction does not arise.
It highlights that attachment can form not only through direct contact but also through imagination, rumor, or mental projection—hearing alone can trigger fixation.
Cultivating restraint and reducing greed is essential for inner contentment; unchecked craving turns the mind restless and blocks lasting fulfillment.