Shloka 17
The Legend of Hemakuṇḍala: Charity, Decline of the Sons, and Yama’s Judgment
अथ तस्य सुतौ राजन्महामान समन्वितौ । तरुणौ रूपसंपन्नौ धनगर्वेण गर्वितौ
atha tasya sutau rājanmahāmāna samanvitau | taruṇau rūpasaṃpannau dhanagarveṇa garvitau
Dann, o König, waren seine beiden Söhne—von großem Hochmut erfüllt—jung und schön, doch vom Reichtum geblendet und von Überheblichkeit aufgebläht.
Narrator addressing the King (rājan)
Concept: Wealth-fed pride in youth becomes the seed of adharma and future suffering; humility is protective.
Application: Treat prosperity as stewardship: practice dana, daily namas to Vishnu, and seek correction from elders to counter arrogance.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Two radiant young princes stride through a palace corridor, their posture lifted with wealth-born pride, jeweled belts and silk garments catching the light. Behind them, attendants carry trays of ornaments and perfumes, while distant elders watch with worried eyes, sensing a moral storm gathering beneath the splendor.","primary_figures":["two arrogant princes","concerned elders","palace attendants"],"setting":"opulent royal palace passage opening into a pleasure garden, with carved pillars and lotus ponds glimpsed beyond","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["burnished gold","royal crimson","peacock green","ivory white","sapphire blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: two youthful princes with exaggerated regal posture, heavy gold jewelry and silk dhotis, ornate palace pillars with gold leaf embossing, lotus motifs on the floor border, elders in subdued tones watching from the side, rich reds and greens, gem-studded ornaments, traditional South Indian iconographic symmetry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: slender handsome princes in fine textiles walking through a palace veranda, delicate brushwork on jewelry, cool pastel architecture, a lotus pond and cypress-like trees in the background, elders peering from behind a curtain, refined facial features and lyrical naturalism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, stylized youthful faces with large eyes, princes adorned with layered ornaments, palace wall patterns and lotus borders, warm red-yellow-green palette, elders rendered in earthy tones to contrast pride and restraint.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: palace-garden scene framed by intricate floral borders and lotus medallions, the two princes centered with ornate textiles, attendants with garlands and perfume trays, peacocks near a pond, deep blues and gold accents, decorative symmetry reminiscent of Nathdwara textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["soft palace drums","anklet chimes","distant temple bell","murmur of courtiers"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: राजन्महामान = राजन् + महामान; रूपसंपन्नौ = रूप + संपन्नौ; धनगर्वेण (समास).
FAQs
It emphasizes youth and beauty coupled with “mahāmāna” (great pride) and “dhana-garva” (wealth-born arrogance), setting up an ethical contrast often used in Purāṇic narratives.
It indicates an inflated self-importance rooted in wealth—an inner vice (garva) that typically leads to downfall or correction through dharma in subsequent verses.
The address frames the teaching as counsel for rulers and listeners: prosperity and power can intensify pride, so governance and personal conduct should remain grounded in dharma.