Shloka 47
The Tale of Sukalā: Testing Pativratā Fidelity and the Body-as-House Teaching
संप्राप्ते वार्द्धके देवि किंचित्कार्यं न सिध्यति । स्थविरश्चिंतयेन्नित्यं सुखकार्यं न गच्छति
saṃprāpte vārddhake devi kiṃcitkāryaṃ na sidhyati | sthaviraściṃtayennityaṃ sukhakāryaṃ na gacchati
Ô Déesse, lorsque la vieillesse est venue, presque aucune entreprise n’aboutit. Le vieillard demeure sans cesse soucieux et ne s’avance pas vers des œuvres de douceur et d’aisance.
Uncertain from single-verse context (likely a male narrator addressing Devī/Parvatī in a Mahādeva–Pārvatī dialogue)
Concept: Old age brings diminished capacity and increased worry; therefore, do meaningful duties and spiritual practice earlier.
Application: Create a sustainable daily sādhana now (tulasi watering, nāma-japa, ekādaśī discipline, charity) so it continues even when strength wanes.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An elderly devotee sits on a low veranda, hands trembling over prayer beads, while thought-forms of unfinished tasks swirl like dark clouds above his head. Behind him, a younger self is shown faintly in a mirror-like panel, suggesting the lost opportunity to establish dharma earlier.","primary_figures":["elderly devotee (generic)","subtle personification of Chintā (worry) as a shadowy aura"],"setting":"courtyard of a modest home with a small tulasi platform and a distant temple spire","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["smoky violet","warm ochre","lamp-gold","leaf green","charcoal black"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: an aged devotee seated near a tulasi maṇḍapa and a small Vishnu lamp, ornate gold leaf highlighting the lamp flame and temple spire; rich reds and greens, gem-studded ornaments on the shrine, a stylized dark cloud of worry above the head rendered with decorative motifs.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate depiction of an old man with japa-mālā in a quiet courtyard, tulasi plant nearby, distant temple; cool muted palette, lyrical naturalism, refined facial features, soft hills and sky, a faint translucent overlay of swirling ‘worry’ forms.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines—elderly figure with large expressive eyes, tulasi platform and lamp, stylized chintā-cloud motifs; natural pigments with red/yellow/green dominance, temple-wall composition.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central tulasi platform and lamp as devotional anchor, elderly devotee seated in reverence; ornate floral borders, lotus and vine motifs, deep blue background with gold highlights, peacocks subdued, mood of quiet admonition."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft mridang-like pulse","temple bells","wind through leaves","distant chanting","brief silence after key words"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: किंचित् + कार्यम् → किंचित्कार्यम्; स्थविरः + चिन्तयेत् → स्थविरश्चिंतयेत् (विसर्ग-सन्धि)
FAQs
It highlights the limitations that come with old age—reduced capacity to accomplish tasks and an increase in worry—encouraging timely, purposeful living and detachment.
“Devī” signals a dialogic setting where the speaker is addressing the Goddess (often Pārvatī), a common Purāṇic framing for moral and philosophical instruction.
Do not postpone dharma, duties, and spiritual practice; time brings decline, and anxiety can obstruct well-being—so act while strength and clarity remain.