Shloka 20
The Origin of the Lauhitya River
and the King of Tīrthas
शंतनुश्चेति विख्यातः पत्नी तस्य पतिव्रता । अमोघेति समाख्याता रूपयौवनशालिनी
śaṃtanuśceti vikhyātaḥ patnī tasya pativratā | amogheti samākhyātā rūpayauvanaśālinī
Er war unter dem Namen Śaṃtanu berühmt. Seine Gattin, dem Ehegelübde treu, hieß Amoghā, reich an Schönheit und jugendlichem Liebreiz.
Narrator (within the Pulastya–Bhīṣma dialogue context)
Concept: Pativratā-dharma and household virtue are portrayed as spiritually potent qualities that attract divine attention and become the ground for later karmic consequences.
Application: Cultivate steadiness in relationships, integrity in vows, and a home culture of purity and reverence; beauty is framed as best when yoked to dharma.
Primary Rasa: shringara
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: city
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A serene royal household interior: Śaṃtanu sits in dignified calm while Amoghā, radiant with youthful beauty, stands slightly behind in modest posture, her eyes lowered in pativratā composure. The scene emphasizes auspicious domestic order—clean thresholds, ritual vessels, and a faint sense that unseen divinity watches the dharmic home.","primary_figures":["Śaṃtanu","Amoghā"],"setting":"A refined gṛhastha home with carved pillars, a clean courtyard, ritual water pot (kalaśa), flower garlands, and a low wooden seat; hints of a shrine niche to Viṣṇu/Lakṣmī in the background.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["lotus pink","sandalwood beige","emerald green","antique gold","deep maroon"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Śaṃtanu seated in regal composure and Amoghā as a pativratā beside him, richly ornamented yet modest; gold leaf halos and architectural arches, gem-studded jewelry, deep maroon and emerald textiles, a small Viṣṇu-Lakṣmī shrine niche in the background, crisp South Indian iconographic detailing, luminous gold embellishment.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: an intimate palace courtyard scene with delicate brushwork; Śaṃtanu and Amoghā rendered with refined facial features, soft lotus-pink and cool green palette, floral borders, a small tulasī planter hinted near the threshold, lyrical domestic calm.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and natural pigments; Amoghā’s pativratā stance emphasized with large expressive eyes, warm red-yellow-green palette, stylized palace interior, auspicious motifs (kalaśa, lamps) framing the couple.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: domestic auspiciousness framed by lotus and floral borders; a subtle central shrine to Viṣṇu, peacocks near the courtyard, intricate textile patterns in deep blue and gold, Amoghā depicted as the embodiment of śrī within the home."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","morning birds","gentle courtyard ambience","distant conch shell"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शंतनुश्चेति = शंतनुः + च + इति (विसर्ग-सन्धि: ः + च → श्च; then च + इति). अमोघेति = अमोघा + इति (आ + इ → ए).
FAQs
The verse introduces Śaṃtanu as a renowned figure and names his wife as Amoghā, describing her as a devoted wife (pativratā) with beauty and youth.
It highlights the ideal of marital fidelity and dedication to one’s spouse as a valued aspect of dharma in the Purāṇic ethical framework.
It is primarily genealogical/character-descriptive, situating persons within a narrative lineage while also signaling a moral ideal through the epithet pativratā.