Shloka 85
Womb-Suffering and the Path to Liberation
Dialogue of Wisdom, Meditation, and Discernment
दिवारात्रौ महाप्राज्ञ न विंदामि सुखं क्वचित् । एवं दुःखै सुसंतप्तः किं करोमि महामते
divārātrau mahāprājña na viṃdāmi sukhaṃ kvacit | evaṃ duḥkhai susaṃtaptaḥ kiṃ karomi mahāmate
O Hochweiser, bei Tag und Nacht finde ich nirgends Glück. So von Leiden versengt, o Großgesinnter, was soll ich tun?
Unspecified petitioner/sufferer addressing a sage
Concept: When duḥkha becomes total (day and night), the proper response is to seek guidance from the wise rather than sink into despair; humility is the first step toward liberation.
Application: In crisis, explicitly ask for a practice-based remedy (sādhana) from a trusted teacher; commit to one actionable vow for 30 days (e.g., Ekādaśī observance, daily nāma-japa, Tulasi watering).
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A weary seeker approaches a seated sage beneath a banyan tree, the seeker’s face drawn from sleepless sorrow, hands folded in earnest inquiry. The sage’s calm gaze and rosary suggest a path of disciplined devotion; a small river or pond nearby reflects the stillness the seeker longs for.","primary_figures":["seeker/petitioner","mahāprājña sage (teacher)"],"setting":"forest hermitage edge with banyan tree, kusa grass seat, and a small water body","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["banyan green","earth brown","saffron ochre","river silver","sky pale blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a serene sage on a decorated āsana under a stylized tree, gold-leaf accents on the halo and ornaments, the petitioner kneeling with folded hands, rich reds and greens, ornate border with conch-disc motifs hinting at Vaiṣṇava teaching to come.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: quiet āśrama scene with delicate foliage, refined faces, the petitioner leaning forward in humility, the sage holding a japa-mālā; cool natural palette, gentle mountain-like horizon, lyrical stillness.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, the sage with large calm eyes and saffron garments, the petitioner in subdued tones, banyan leaves patterned, natural pigments, didactic clarity of the guru-śiṣya moment.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotionalized guru-seeking scene framed by lotus borders and peacocks; central focus on the act of praṇāma and inquiry, deep blue background with gold floral filigree, subtle Vaiṣṇava symbols in the border."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["rustling leaves","soft water flow","gentle bell at hermitage","measured silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दिवारात्रौ = दिवा + रात्रौ (द्वन्द्व); दुःखै सुसंतप्तः = दुःखैः + सुसंतप्तः (विसर्ग-लोप in some recensions); महामते = महा + मते (समास)
FAQs
The speaker expresses continuous distress—an inability to find happiness day or night—and seeks guidance on what action or refuge is appropriate.
Not directly. It sets up the condition for instruction by presenting existential suffering and requesting counsel, which typically leads into dharmic guidance, vows, or devotion in the surrounding context.
When overwhelmed by suffering, one should not act impulsively; instead, one should approach the wise (mahāprājña/mahāmati) and seek a dharmic course of action.