Shloka 1
Yayāti Ensnared by Desire: Gandharva Marriage, Aśvamedha, and the Demand to See the Worlds
विशालोवाच । शर्मिष्ठा यस्य वै भार्या देवयानी वरानना । सौभाग्यं तत्र वै दृष्टमन्यथा नास्ति भूपते
viśālovāca | śarmiṣṭhā yasya vai bhāryā devayānī varānanā | saubhāgyaṃ tatra vai dṛṣṭamanyathā nāsti bhūpate
Viśāla sprach: „Wessen Gemahlin Śarmiṣṭhā ist und (dessen Gemahlin auch) die schönantlitzige Devayānī—nur dort erblickt man Glück und Gedeihen; sonst ist es nicht so, o König.“
Viśāla
Concept: ‘Saubhāgya’ (good fortune) is portrayed as contingent on complex household arrangements—hinting at the fragile dharma of desire, marriage, and power.
Application: Treat relationships as dharma-sādhana: avoid favoritism, cultivate fairness and self-control, and anchor household life in daily worship and truthfulness.
Primary Rasa: shringara
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a jeweled court, Viśāla speaks with measured emphasis, gesturing toward an imagined scene of Yayāti with Devayānī and Śarmiṣṭhā—two queens whose presence makes fortune appear both radiant and precarious. The king-listener sits attentive, sensing that ‘saubhāgya’ here is not mere wealth but the volatile balance of desire and duty.","primary_figures":["Viśāla","The King (listener)","Devayānī","Śarmiṣṭhā","Yayāti (implied/visualized)"],"setting":"royal sabhā with a narrative ‘vision’ panel or mural-like backdrop showing the two queens","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["royal blue","lotus pink","burnished gold","pearl white","wine red"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Viśāla addressing the seated king in a palace hall, behind them a framed vignette of Yayāti with Devayānī and Śarmiṣṭhā, lavish gold leaf, gem-like ornamentation, rich reds and blues, stylized lotus pillars, expressive yet dignified faces conveying intrigue and moral tension.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: refined court conversation with delicate textiles and patterned carpets, a soft narrative backdrop showing the two queens, cool palette with pink accents, subtle expressions, lyrical composition emphasizing the theme of fortune and relationship complexity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines of Viśāla and king, with a secondary panel depicting Devayānī and Śarmiṣṭhā, warm pigments, ornamental borders, large eyes and stylized jewelry, temple-wall storytelling feel.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central court scene framed by floral borders, side medallions featuring Devayānī and Śarmiṣṭhā with lotus motifs, deep blue ground with gold highlights, peacocks and vines suggesting prosperity and its fragility."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["court ambience","anklet/jewelry chime (subtle)","mridangam soft strokes","brief silence at the word saubhāgya"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विशालोवाच → विशालः उवाच; दृष्टमन्यथा → दृष्टम् अन्यथा; नास्ति → न अस्ति.
FAQs
The speaker is Viśāla (viśāla uvāca). The verse is addressed to a king, indicated by the vocative “bhūpate” (“O king/lord of the earth”).
The verse states that good fortune (saubhāgya) is observed in the situation where Śarmiṣṭhā and Devayānī are wives, and implies that otherwise such fortune is not found.
It reflects a traditional theme linking prosperity or auspiciousness (saubhāgya) with specific relational or familial circumstances, framed within a royal dialogue context.