Shloka 107
The Greatness of Puṣkara: Tripuṣkara Pilgrimage, Sacred Geography, and the Doctrine of Self-Restraint
च्यवनस्याश्रमं गत्वा पुण्यं द्विजनिषेवितम् । फलमूलाशनानां हि मुनीनां भक्षितं शतं
cyavanasyāśramaṃ gatvā puṇyaṃ dvijaniṣevitam | phalamūlāśanānāṃ hi munīnāṃ bhakṣitaṃ śataṃ
Als sie zur Āśrama des Cyavana gelangten—heilig und von den Zweimalgeborenen besucht—wurden dort hundert Portionen von Munis verzehrt, die von Früchten und Wurzeln leben.
Unspecified narrator (context-dependent within Adhyaya 19)
Concept: Holiness (puṇyatva) is not merely a label; it demands protection and right conduct—its violation is a grave moral inversion.
Application: Cultivate reverence for ascetic simplicity (fruit-and-root subsistence) and avoid exploiting the gentle; protect sacred communities from predatory forces.
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: forest
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A serene hermitage clearing—once filled with the quiet rhythm of fruit-gathering and root-cooking—now stands ravaged. The attackers’ footprints cut through sacred kuśa mats, while the sages’ simple leaf-bowls and water-pots lie overturned near a small shrine, emphasizing the contrast between ascetic purity and violent consumption.","primary_figures":["Dānavas","Munis (phala-mūlāśin sages)","Cyavana (as a distant, iconic presence or implied by hermitage markers)"],"setting":"Forest clearing with fruit trees, roots drying on mats, a small altar, and a path frequented by dvijas","lighting_mood":"cold pre-dawn gloom with faint mist","color_palette":["mist gray","leaf green","earth brown","pale saffron","deep maroon"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Cyavana’s holy āśrama depicted with ornate shrine elements and gold-leaf highlights on ritual vessels; ascetic simplicity shown through muted garments and natural textures; dānava figures rendered with dramatic posture and dark tones; rich reds/greens with gold accents to heighten the sacrilege of a sacred place violated.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical forest with fruit-laden trees and delicate mist; sages with refined faces and minimal possessions; the violence suggested through scattered objects and retreating shadowy figures rather than explicit gore; cool palette with subtle warm highlights on sacred fire remnants.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized forest and altar with bold outlines; demons in dynamic motion; sages in restrained, dignified forms; natural pigment palette (reds, yellows, greens) against a darkened background to convey moral contrast.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic hermitage framed by intricate floral borders and lotus motifs; overturned leaf-bowls and kamaṇḍalus arranged like a disrupted pattern; deep blues and gold; peacocks and forest flora at margins; emphasis on sacred order disturbed."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["wind gusts","rustling leaves","distant animal cries","crack of branches","sudden hush"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: cyavanasyāśramaṃ -> cyavanasya + āśramaṃ (Savarna Dirgha)
FAQs
Cyavana is a revered Vedic sage (ṛṣi), frequently associated in Sanskrit tradition with ascetic power and hermitage life; here his āśrama is presented as a sacred, Brahmin-frequented place.
It indicates the hermitage is regularly visited and served by the “twice-born” (primarily Brahmins), marking it as ritually reputable and spiritually meritorious.
It points to ascetic simplicity—sages living on fruits and roots—highlighting restraint, non-excess, and disciplined living as supportive of spiritual practice.