Shloka 5
Yayāti Ensnared by Desire: Gandharva Marriage, Aśvamedha, and the Demand to See the Worlds
रूपतेजः समायुक्तं सपत्नीसहितं प्रियम् । न वरं तादृशं कांतं सपत्नीविषसंयुतम्
rūpatejaḥ samāyuktaṃ sapatnīsahitaṃ priyam | na varaṃ tādṛśaṃ kāṃtaṃ sapatnīviṣasaṃyutam
Selbst ein geliebter Gemahl, mit Schönheit und Glanz begabt, ist kein Segen, wenn eine Mitgattin ihn begleitet; ein solcher Geliebter, verbunden mit dem ‘Gift’ der Rivalität der Mitgattin, ist kein wahrer Gewinn.
Unspecified (contextual speaker not provided in the input excerpt)
Concept: External beauty and brilliance do not compensate for relational adharma; jealousy turns love into poison.
Application: Value integrity and emotional safety over status or charm; avoid situations that institutionalize rivalry and resentment.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A radiant, handsome king sits adorned with jewels, yet a shadowy green ‘poison mist’ rises between him and a sorrowful queen, symbolizing the venom of rivalry. Behind them, a second queen’s silhouette appears like a serpent-hood, turning the palace’s splendor into a gilded cage of grief.","primary_figures":["Beloved husband/king","primary queen (lamenting)","co-wife as shadow/serpent-symbol","attendants holding lamps"],"setting":"Opulent palace interior with carved pillars, silk curtains, and a low throne—beauty contrasted with emotional toxicity.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["lotus pink","emerald green","burnished gold","midnight blue","ivory white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: richly ornamented royal couple in a palace, gold leaf on jewelry and pillars; a subtle green translucent ‘poison’ aura between them, co-wife suggested as a serpent-hood motif behind; saturated reds/greens, symmetrical composition, moral allegory embedded in devotional icon-like framing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate palace scene with delicate textiles and refined faces; the queen’s downcast eyes and the husband’s distant gaze convey disillusionment; a faint green wash symbolizes poison, with cool blues and soft pinks balancing sorrow and critique.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, stylized palace backdrop; the ‘poison’ rendered as decorative green flame-like pattern; expressive eyes and gestures emphasize karuṇa, with red/yellow/green pigments and ornamental borders.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: palace scene framed by floral borders and lotus motifs; central couple separated by a stylized green vine-serpent pattern; deep indigo background with gold highlights, intricate textile detailing, allegorical rather than literal realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft veena phrases","lamp crackle","distant palace anklets","gentle tanpura drone"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रूप-तेजः = रूपतेजः. सपत्नी-सहितम् = सपत्नीसहितम्. सपत्नी-विष-संयुतम् = सपत्नीविषसंयुतम्.
FAQs
It warns that even desirable qualities (beauty, brilliance, affection) are undermined when domestic life is poisoned by co-wife rivalry; social conflict can negate apparent blessings.
“Viṣa” is a metaphor for the corrosive effects of jealousy, competition, and insecurity, which can destroy harmony and emotional well-being in a household.
No. It specifically critiques the suffering and ethical harm arising from rivalry between co-wives, emphasizing peace and stability as higher goods than outward attractiveness or status.