Shloka 15
Inquiry into Sacred Fords and the Merit of Earth-Circumambulation
Narada–Yudhishthira; Entry into the Dilipa–Vasistha Episode
नारद उवाच । शृणु राजन्नवहितो दिलीपेन यथा पुरा । वसिष्ठस्य सकाशाद्वै सर्वमेतदुपश्रुतम्
nārada uvāca | śṛṇu rājannavahito dilīpena yathā purā | vasiṣṭhasya sakāśādvai sarvametadupaśrutam
Nārada sprach: Höre, o König, mit voller Aufmerksamkeit, wie einst Dilīpa wahrlich all dies aus der Gegenwart Vasiṣṭhas vernahm.
Nārada
Concept: Śravaṇa with avadhāna (full attention) is the doorway to dharma; sacred knowledge is received through a trustworthy paramparā.
Application: Cultivate focused listening to dharmic instruction; seek teachings from reliable sources and preserve them accurately when sharing.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A quiet royal hall dissolves into a visionary overlay: Nārada, veena in hand, gestures as if opening a scroll of time, while the king leans forward in concentrated listening. Behind them, a translucent tableau shows Dilīpa seated near a hermitage, receiving Vasiṣṭha’s words—two layers of narration rendered as luminous ‘memory within memory’.","primary_figures":["Nārada","a listening king (unnamed in verse)","Dilīpa (visionary inset)","Vasiṣṭha (visionary inset)"],"setting":"Purāṇic discourse space with a subtle celestial aura; secondary inset of a forest-āśrama with sacrificial implements and kusa grass.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["saffron ochre","deep indigo","burnished gold","palm-leaf green","ivory white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Nārada seated slightly elevated with veena, right hand raised in teaching mudrā, the king below with folded hands and intent gaze; behind them a gold-leaf haloed inset scene of Dilīpa at Vasiṣṭha’s āśrama, ornate arch motifs, rich reds and greens, gem-studded ornaments, heavy gold leaf embellishment around halos and borders, traditional South Indian iconography.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate teaching moment—Nārada and the king in a pavilion with delicate floral borders; in the background a misty inset of Dilīpa meeting Vasiṣṭha in a pine-tinged hermitage, cool blues and soft greens, refined faces, lyrical naturalism, fine brushwork and gentle gradients.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, Nārada with stylized large eyes and veena, the king attentive; a secondary vignette of Vasiṣṭha blessing Dilīpa, natural pigments with dominant reds/yellows/greens, temple-wall aesthetic, patterned textiles and ornamental borders.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: narrative panel with ornate floral borders and lotus motifs; Nārada teaching the king at center, a smaller framed vignette of Dilīpa at the sage’s hermitage; deep blues and gold accents, intricate foliage, peacocks perched on borders, devotional storytelling composition."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["tanpura drone","soft temple bells","veena resonance","gentle silence between phrases"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: राजन्नवहितो → राजन् + अवहितः; सकाशाद्वै → सकाशात् + वै; सर्वमेतदुपश्रुतम् → सर्वम् + एतत् + उपश्रुतम्
FAQs
The speaker is Sage Nārada, addressing a king (राजन्), introducing a traditional account he is about to narrate.
It highlights attentive listening (अवहितः) and learning through a teacher’s presence—Dilīpa is presented as having heard the teaching directly from Sage Vasiṣṭha.
A ruler should cultivate humility and attentiveness, seeking counsel from realized sages and learning carefully before acting.