Shloka 25
The Account of Sukalā in the Vena Episode: The Sow, the Sons, and Royal Restraint
कस्मादुपेक्षसे कांत तन्मे त्वं कारणं वद । तामुवाच महाराजो नाहं हन्मि इमां स्त्रियम्
kasmādupekṣase kāṃta tanme tvaṃ kāraṇaṃ vada | tāmuvāca mahārājo nāhaṃ hanmi imāṃ striyam
“Pourquoi m'ignores-tu, mon bien-aimé ? Dis-m'en la raison.” Le grand roi lui répondit : “Je ne tuerai point cette femme.”
Narrator (introducing dialogue); then Mahārāja (the great king) replies
Concept: Ahimsa and moral restraint can prevail even under provocation; the righteous ruler refuses to kill a woman.
Application: Hold boundaries without cruelty; refuse disproportionate harm, especially toward the vulnerable, even when anger feels justified.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The queen, anxious and insistent, leans toward the king, her eyes searching; the king answers with calm firmness, palm slightly raised in a gesture of restraint. Around them, courtiers hold their breath—war and vengeance press in, yet a quiet ethical light steadies the scene.","primary_figures":["king (mahārāja)","queen (kāntā/rājñī)","courtiers/guards"],"setting":"royal pavilion or palace chamber with war implements nearby, suggesting imminent decision","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["warm amber","sandalwood beige","ruby red","peacock green","soft gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: king seated or standing in composed majesty, right hand raised in a gesture of mercy, queen pleading beside him; gold-leaf aura around the king to signify dharmic resolve, rich reds/greens in textiles, gem-studded ornaments, lotus border emphasizing śānti through restraint.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate court scene with subtle emotion—queen’s concerned tilt, king’s serene gaze; cool yet warm-balanced palette, fine textile patterns, a quiet background that amplifies the moral choice.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: iconic frontal king with calm eyes, queen in profile speaking; bold outlines, red/yellow/green pigments, lamp motifs and stylized pillars; the raised palm becomes the central symbol of ahiṃsā.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: moral tableau framed by lotus vines and floral borders; deep blue ground with gold highlights, central figures stylized, peacocks and cows as auspicious witnesses; the king’s gesture of restraint rendered as the compositional focus."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","low tanpura drone","quiet court ambience","brief silence after 'nāhaṃ hanmi'"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कस्मादुपेक्षसे → कस्मात् उपेक्षसे; तन्मे → तत् मे; तामुवाच → ताम् उवाच; नाहं → न अहम्
FAQs
It highlights dharmic restraint: the king explicitly refuses violence against a woman, presenting moral limits on power and punishment.
The verse first reports a woman addressing her beloved (“Why do you ignore me?”), then the narration states that the great king replies, refusing to kill “this woman.”
Not directly. This shloka is primarily a dialogue centered on conduct (dharma) and the king’s ethical decision, rather than pilgrimage geography or devotional theology.