Shloka 19
Instruction on All Dharma
in the context of Rāma’s Aśvamedha
ददर्श तत्र शतशो बद्धांस्तादृशवर्णकान् । दृष्ट्वा विस्मयमापेदे स मुनिर्हर्षितांगकः
dadarśa tatra śataśo baddhāṃstādṛśavarṇakān | dṛṣṭvā vismayamāpede sa munirharṣitāṃgakaḥ
There he saw, by the hundreds, those bound ones of just such appearance. Seeing this, the sage was struck with wonder, his whole body thrilled with joy.
Narrator (contextual prose voice; specific dialogue-speaker not explicit in this verse alone)
Concept: Wonder (vismaya) can open the heart, but the binding hints that power and beauty require restraint and right governance under dharma.
Application: When encountering abundance, cultivate gratitude and self-restraint; let joy refine into reverence.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shringara
Type: netherworld
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Behind heavy gates, hundreds of splendid horses stand tethered in orderly ranks, their coats repeating the rare colors seen before like a living tapestry. The sage gazes upon them, eyes widened; a visible thrill runs through his body as if the air itself vibrates with auspicious power.","primary_figures":["muni (sage)","hundreds of bound horses","gatekeepers/guards"],"setting":"massive gated enclosure within Pātāla, iron-and-gold bars, gem lamps, incense-laden air","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["burnished gold","midnight blue","pearl white","vermillion","emerald"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: grand enclosure packed with ornamented horses in repeating color patterns; gold leaf on gates, lamps, and harness ornaments; the sage in front with a subtle halo, rich crimson backdrop, intricate border work and gem-like highlights.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: dense yet delicate crowding of horses behind a lattice gate; the sage’s expression rendered with fine nuance; cool shadows, soft gradients, patterned textiles, and a sense of contained energy.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: rhythmic rows of tethered horses with stylized harnesses; bold outlines, warm lamp yellows against deep greens; the sage shown in three-quarter profile with heightened eyes, narrative frieze composition.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symmetrical enclosure filled with repeating horse motifs like a textile pattern; ornate floral borders, lotus medallions, deep blue ground with gold detailing, peacocks perched on the gate arch."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["sudden hush","metal chain clinks","collective horse snorts","temple bell swell","resonant echo"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: बद्धांस्तादृशवर्णकान् = बद्धान् + तादृशवर्णकान्; विस्मयमापेदे = विस्मयम् + आपेदे; मुनिर्हर्षितांगकः = मुनिः + हर्षिताङ्गकः (अङ्गकः इति)
FAQs
A sage witnesses many beings ‘bound’ (baddhān) and responds with astonishment (vismaya) and bodily joy (harṣitāṅgaka).
The verse presents a devotional-epic reaction where a startling vision provokes vismaya (marvel) and harṣa (uplift/joy), suggesting the sight has spiritual or revelatory significance within the episode.
Not by name in this line; it only states they were ‘bound’ and ‘of such an appearance’ (tādṛśa-varṇakān). Identification depends on the surrounding verses of Adhyaya 9.