Shloka 7
Yayāti Ensnared by Desire: Gandharva Marriage, Aśvamedha, and the Demand to See the Worlds
इत्यर्थं पश्य मे कोशं सत्वधर्मसमन्वितम् । अश्रुबिंदुमत्युवाच । अहं राज्यस्य भोक्त्री च तव कायस्य भूपते
ityarthaṃ paśya me kośaṃ satvadharmasamanvitam | aśrubiṃdumatyuvāca | ahaṃ rājyasya bhoktrī ca tava kāyasya bhūpate
„Darum sieh auf meinen Schatz, erfüllt von Dharma und Rechtschaffenheit“, sprach Aśrubindumatī. „O König, ich bin sowohl die Nutznießerin des Reiches als auch diejenige, die deine eigene Person besitzt.“
Aśrubindumatī
Concept: Wealth and power are framed as instruments of leverage; the verse exposes how ‘dharma’ language can be invoked to legitimize possession and control.
Application: Be cautious when virtue is used as rhetoric to justify control; align resources (kośa) with genuine dharma—charity, protection, and restraint.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Aśrubindumatī stands before open treasury chests overflowing with coins, textiles, and jeweled vessels, her gaze unwavering as she gestures to the kośa as proof of her standing. The king sits rigid on a low throne, the air thick with negotiation, as the woman’s words claim both the kingdom’s enjoyment and the king’s very person.","primary_figures":["Aśrubindumatī","Rājā (the king)","treasury guards","scribes/accountants"],"setting":"Royal treasury hall with stacked chests, hanging lamps, ledgers, and guarded doorways—politics rendered as material reality.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["brass gold","lac red","teak brown","jade green","shadow black"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Aśrubindumatī in regal attire pointing to overflowing treasure chests, gold leaf heavily applied to coins, vessels, and jewelry; the king seated with stern expression, ornate pillars and arch framing, rich reds/greens, gem-studded ornaments emphasizing the weight of artha in the drama.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: detailed treasury interior with delicate patterns on chests and textiles; Aśrubindumatī’s poised stance and sharp gesture, the king’s controlled posture; warm browns and golds with cool shadows, refined facial expressions conveying power-play rather than battle.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines and flat pigments; treasury rendered with stylized stacks of gold, Aśrubindumatī central with commanding hand gesture, king seated to the side; decorative borders and temple-wall narrative clarity, red/yellow/green palette with strong contrast.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: treasury scene framed by intricate floral borders; chests and coins stylized into repeating motifs, Aśrubindumatī and the king placed symmetrically; deep indigo background with gold highlights, ornamental richness underscoring the theme of possession."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["coin clink (subtle)","low tanpura drone","lamp hiss","guard spear tap"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इति + अर्थम् = इत्यर्थम्. अश्रु-बिन्दुमती + उवाच = अश्रुबिंदुमत्युवाच.
FAQs
It frames the treasury as something that should be “endowed with dharma and sattva,” implying wealth is legitimate when acquired and used ethically, supporting just rule rather than mere accumulation.
Aśrubindumatī is speaking to the king (bhūpati). The tone is assertive and declarative, emphasizing her claim over both the kingdom’s enjoyment and the king’s person.
It highlights the idea that power and prosperity are tied to personal relationships and obligations; enjoyment of rule is not isolated but bound to duty, legitimacy, and moral conduct.