Shloka 132
Mārkaṇḍeya’s Birth and Boon; Puṣkara’s Glory; Rāma’s Śrāddha; Refuge-Hymn to Śiva
श्रुत्वा चाश्रुतपूर्वं हि वाक्यं लक्ष्मणभाषितम् । विमना राघवस्तस्थौ सीता चापि वरानना
śrutvā cāśrutapūrvaṃ hi vākyaṃ lakṣmaṇabhāṣitam | vimanā rāghavastasthau sītā cāpi varānanā
Als Rāghava die von Lakṣmaṇa gesprochenen Worte vernahm—Worte, wie er sie nie zuvor gehört hatte—stand er dort niedergeschlagen; und auch Sītā, die Schönangesichtige, war gleichermaßen bekümmert.
Narrator (third-person epic narration; not a direct speech verse)
Concept: Even the noblest heart can be shaken by unexpected words; dharma is not the absence of emotion but the capacity to stand steady and act rightly despite it.
Application: When confronted with sudden criticism or fear from loved ones, pause, listen fully, and respond from principle rather than impulse; let grief mature into resolve.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: city
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Rāma stands motionless, eyes lowered, as Lakṣmaṇa’s unexpected words still vibrate in the air; beside him Sītā’s face, usually radiant, is clouded with shared distress. The scene is quiet yet charged—like a held breath—while the palace gate and the forest road frame the choice ahead.","primary_figures":["Rāma (Rāghava)","Sītā","Lakṣmaṇa"],"setting":"Ayodhyā gate courtyard with a visible road leading into dense forest; a few attendants/citizens blurred at the edges","lighting_mood":"divine radiance muted by sorrow (soft dawn haze)","color_palette":["soft gold","pale lotus pink","deep forest green","sapphire blue","mist gray"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Rāma centered in a still, dignified posture, Sītā slightly behind with a sorrowful gaze, Lakṣmaṇa in mid-speech gesture; gold leaf haloing the trio yet softened with translucent shading to convey dejection; ornate gate arch with rich reds/greens and gem-like highlights.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: subtle facial emotion—Rāma’s dejection, Sītā’s quiet distress, Lakṣmaṇa’s earnest intensity; delicate dawn mist, fine foliage, and a winding forest path; cool, restrained palette with lyrical negative space emphasizing silence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines and expressive eyes; Rāma’s stance rigid and still, Sītā’s face softened with sorrow, Lakṣmaṇa’s dynamic hand gesture; warm yellow-red background with green forest band; stylized patterns on garments and gate pillars.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: the trio framed by intricate lotus and vine borders; deep blue ground with gold detailing; Sītā’s veil patterned with floral motifs; the forest path rendered as a decorative green corridor, emphasizing the devotional journey through sorrow."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft tanpura drone","distant conch","morning birds fading","gentle bell","long silence between half-verses"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चाश्रुतपूर्वम् = च + अश्रुतपूर्वम्; राघवस्तस्थौ = राघवः + तस्थौ; चापि = च + अपि.
FAQs
Lakṣmaṇa’s unprecedented words cause a sudden emotional shift: Rāma becomes dejected and still, and Sītā also shares in the distress.
It highlights the power of speech: even well-intended or forceful words can deeply affect others, calling for restraint, clarity, and compassion in counsel.
Though in Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa, it reflects Purāṇic dharma-narrative style—using well-known figures (Rāma, Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa) to illustrate human responses, duty, and the consequences of counsel and conflict.