Shloka 148
ततः षष्टिसहस्राणि सुषुवे यादवी प्रभा । खनंतः पृथिवीं दग्धा विष्णुना ये ऽश्वमार्गणे
tataḥ ṣaṣṭisahasrāṇi suṣuve yādavī prabhā | khanaṃtaḥ pṛthivīṃ dagdhā viṣṇunā ye 'śvamārgaṇe
Daraufhin gebar die Yādavī Prabhā sechzigtausend Söhne. Als sie die Erde nach dem Opferross durchwühlten, wurden sie von Viṣṇu verbrannt.
Narrator (Purāṇic narrator; specific dialogue pair not explicit from the single verse)
Concept: Power without restraint becomes adharma; even royal-sacrificial pursuits must be governed by humility and reverence for the Divine.
Application: Do not justify harm in the name of ‘duty’ or ‘mission’; pause when anger and obsession drive action; keep sacred goals aligned with compassion and restraint.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: netherworld
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vast chasm opens as sixty thousand princes dig furiously, their spades and weapons flashing, dust rising like storm clouds. In the depths, a serene yet terrible Viṣṇu-presence manifests—either as a blazing divine form or as Kapila-like ascetic radiance—releasing a wave of fire that turns the army’s fury into ash in an instant, while the earth itself trembles.","primary_figures":["Prabhā’s sixty thousand sons","Viṣṇu (as divine presence)","(optional) Kapila-like ascetic manifestation"],"setting":"Ruptured earth near a sacrificial arena; subterranean cavern with roots, rocks, and smoky air; distant hint of the sacrificial horse’s trail.","lighting_mood":"dramatic","color_palette":["charcoal black","molten orange","smoke gray","blood red","electric gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Central blazing Viṣṇu/Kapila figure with a large gold halo and flame motifs in gold leaf; rows of princes in dynamic poses; embossed gold highlights on weapons and ornaments; deep crimson and emerald accents; dramatic composition with stylized fire waves and ornate border.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: Diagonal composition of digging princes descending into a rocky hollow; delicate yet tense brushwork; fire rendered as translucent washes; cool earth tones contrasted with bright saffron flames; expressive faces showing shock and fear.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Iconic Viṣṇu figure with bold outlines and intense gaze; flames as patterned bands; princes arranged in rhythmic repetition; strong red-yellow-black contrasts; temple-wall narrative panel feel.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Symbolic rendering—earth as a dark lotus pond, princes as withering petals; central divine flame-lotus with gold detailing; ornate floral borders; deep indigo background with fiery orange highlights."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["thunder-like drum","cracking earth","roaring fire","conch blast","sudden silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ये ऽश्वमार्गणे = ये + अश्वमार्गणे (अवग्रह).
FAQs
It alludes to the aśvamedha narrative motif where a consecrated horse is pursued; those involved dig and search aggressively, leading here to their destruction by Viṣṇu.
The verse presents their end as a divine act linked to their disruptive, earth-tearing search; it underscores that power and numbers do not protect against divine law and consequence.
Unchecked zeal and harmful action—symbolized by digging up the earth in pursuit of an objective—can lead to ruin; success in ritual or ambition must be aligned with dharma.