Shloka 49
The Destruction of Dakṣa’s Sacrifice
कुलेमहतिवैजन्मवपुश्चातीवसुंदरम् । पूर्वभाग्यैस्तु लभ्यंते नरैरेतानि सुव्रते
kulemahativaijanmavapuścātīvasuṃdaram | pūrvabhāgyaistu labhyaṃte narairetāni suvrate
Geburt in einem edlen Geschlecht und ein Leib von außerordentlicher Schönheit—solche Vorzüge erlangen Menschen nur durch in der Vergangenheit erworbene Verdienste, o du Tugendsame mit heiligen Gelübden.
Unspecified (context-dependent narrator/speaker in Adhyaya 5)
Concept: High birth and exceptional beauty arise from prior merit; present advantages should be understood as earned results, not grounds for pride.
Application: Use privilege responsibly: practice generosity, avoid vanity, and cultivate vows/discipline so that good fortune becomes a means for dharma and devotion.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A noble household scene shows a beautifully adorned person gazing into a mirror, while a sage nearby points to a palm-leaf manuscript, reminding that such gifts come from past merit. The mirror reflects not vanity but a softened expression of gratitude and responsibility.","primary_figures":["virtuous woman (suvratā) or noble person","sage/teacher","attendants (optional)"],"setting":"Courtyard of a noble home with carved pillars, a small shrine niche, and a manuscript stand; subtle symbols of merit—lotus, lamp, and charity bowl.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["royal blue","antique gold","rose red","ivory","jade green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: noble figure with refined ornaments and silk garments, sage instructing beside a manuscript stand; gold leaf highlights on jewelry and halo-like aura around the teaching gesture, rich reds/greens, ornate architectural frame, emphasis on dignity over vanity.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: elegant courtyard with delicate pillars and flowering vines; the sage’s gentle admonition contrasts with the noble figure’s calm, grateful gaze; cool mountain-like palette with warm accents, refined faces, lyrical domestic serenity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, stylized jewelry, sage holding palm-leaf text; red-yellow-green palette, symmetrical composition, shrine lamp glowing, eyes conveying ethical seriousness and calm.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central teaching vignette framed by lotus borders; motifs of charity vessels and lamps repeated in the border, deep blue and gold, peacocks and floral arabesques, emphasizing auspiciousness disciplined by virtue."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["tanpura drone","soft mridangam pulse","temple bell","courtyard birds","page-turning of palm leaves"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुलेमहति = कुले + महति; जन्मवपुः = जन्म + वपुः; वपुश्च = वपुः + च; चातीव = च + अतीव; अतीवसुन्दरम् = अतीव + सुन्दरम्; पूर्वभाग्यैस्तु = पूर्वभाग्यैः + तु; लभ्यंते = लभ्यन्ते (अनुस्वार/लिप्यन्तर-भेद); नरैरेतानि = नरैः + एतानि.
FAQs
It teaches a karmic principle: advantages like noble birth and exceptional beauty arise from prior merit (pūrva-bhāgya/pūrva-puṇya), not merely from chance.
It points to continuity of moral causation across lives: present circumstances reflect past actions, while implying that present actions can shape future outcomes.
'Suvrate' means “one of good vows/virtuous observances,” a respectful address to a woman devoted to dharma; the exact identity depends on the surrounding dialogue in Adhyaya 5.