Shloka 108
Rāma’s Meeting with Agastya: Gift-Ethics (Dāna) and the Tale of King Śveta
लंबमाना मही चैषा गुरुत्वेनाधिवासिता । दक्षिणा दिग्दिवं याता त्रैलाक्यं विषमस्थितम्
laṃbamānā mahī caiṣā gurutvenādhivāsitā | dakṣiṇā digdivaṃ yātā trailākyaṃ viṣamasthitam
Diese Erde, von ihrer eigenen Schwere bedrückt, sank hinab und hing tief; die südliche Himmelsrichtung stieg zum Himmel empor, und die drei Welten gerieten in eine ungleiche Lage.
Unspecified narrator (context-dependent within Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa narration)
Concept: When the world loses equilibrium, restoration is a sacred duty; cosmic order depends on balance among forces and directions.
Application: Notice early signs of imbalance in life—health, work, relationships—and correct gently before the ‘three worlds’ of one’s life become uneven.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The Earth appears as a great sphere slipping downward, suspended as if on invisible threads, while the southern quarter tilts upward like a rising wall of sky. The three worlds—earth, mid-air, and heaven—are shown skewed and misaligned, with beings clinging to temples, mountains, and cloud-palaces as the cosmos lists to one side.","primary_figures":["Personified Bhūmi (Earth goddess)","Dikpālas (directional guardians, implied)","Celestial beings and humans (tiny figures for scale)"],"setting":"A cosmic cross-section of triloka with visible tilt: mountains sliding, cloud-cities drifting, and a rising southern horizon.","lighting_mood":"moonlit","color_palette":["storm violet","ashen silver","deep teal","pale gold","earth umber"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: personified Bhūmi with ornate crown and gold leaf halo, shown sinking; stylized triloka in layered bands tilted diagonally; gold leaf used to emphasize cosmic axes and divine geometry; rich reds/greens with dramatic dark blues.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: elegant diagonal composition showing the tilted worlds; delicate clouds and fine mountain lines; small figures in distress; cool nocturnal palette with subtle gold highlights to suggest cosmic order strained.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines and strong color blocks; Bhūmi as a central iconographic figure; quarters indicated by symbolic motifs; dynamic tilt conveyed through slanted registers, vivid reds/yellows/greens against deep blue.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: decorative cosmic diagram with lotus rosettes marking directions; Bhūmi as a central medallion figure; borders of swirling clouds and lotuses; deep indigo ground with gold and pink accents."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["low drone","distant thunder","wind gusts","temple bell (sporadic)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ca+eṣā→caiṣā; gurutvena+adhivāsitā→gurutvenādhivāsitā; dik+divam→digdivam (final k→g before voiced d); tri+loka→trailokya→trailākyaṃ (dvigu).
FAQs
It depicts a cosmic imbalance: the earth sinks under its own weight, the southern direction is said to rise skyward, and the three worlds (trailokya) become uneven—an image used to convey disruption in the cosmic order.
Not directly. It is primarily cosmographic, describing directional and world-level imbalance rather than naming specific tīrthas; however, such cosmology often frames later discussions of regions and sacred landscapes.
The verse suggests that when foundational balance is disturbed, all realms are affected—implying the need for restoring dharma and cosmic order through right conduct and divine alignment.