Shloka 48
The Yayāti Episode
with the Glory of Mātā–Pitṛ Tīrtha
त्वदादेशं करिष्यामि जरा मे दीयतां नृप । तारुण्येन ममाद्यैव भूत्वा सुंदररूपदृक्
tvadādeśaṃ kariṣyāmi jarā me dīyatāṃ nṛpa | tāruṇyena mamādyaiva bhūtvā suṃdararūpadṛk
«J’accomplirai ton ordre, ô roi. Donne-moi la vieillesse; et, redevenant jeune dès ce jour, que je contemple et porte une forme belle».
Unspecified (a petitioner addressing a king)
Concept: Self-sacrifice and obedience to rightful authority are portrayed as powerful enough to alter one’s embodied condition (jarā/tāruṇya).
Application: Honor commitments even when costly; treat youth/beauty as transient and use vitality for dharmic action rather than vanity.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shringara
Type: city
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a jeweled royal court, a devoted petitioner kneels before the king with palms joined, offering to accept old age in exchange for immediate youth and radiant beauty. Courtiers watch in stunned silence as a faint aura gathers around the petitioner’s body, suggesting an imminent, uncanny transformation.","primary_figures":["the petitioner","the king (nṛpa)","court attendants"],"setting":"pillared palace hall with lotus-carved columns, silk canopies, and a throne backed by a lion-emblem tapestry","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["lotus pink","sapphire blue","antique gold","ivory white","emerald green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a South Indian royal durbar scene with the king on a high throne and a kneeling petitioner offering to take on jarā; heavy gold leaf on the throne, halo-like aureole around the petitioner, rich crimson and emerald textiles, gem-studded ornaments, stylized lotus pillars, intricate border motifs.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: an intimate court interior with delicate linework; the petitioner in humble posture before the king, soft shading on faces, cool blues and pinks, patterned carpets, a small window revealing a pale sky; subtle glow around the petitioner indicating the youth/age exchange.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and flat natural pigments; the king with large expressive eyes and ornate crown, the petitioner with folded hands; warm red-yellow-green palette; lamp flames and lotus motifs framing the moment of vow and impending transformation.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: palace scene framed by dense floral borders and lotus medallions; the petitioner’s aura rendered as concentric lotus petals; deep indigo background with gold highlights; peacocks perched on palace arches as auspicious witnesses."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["soft court murmurs","temple bells","conch shell","anklet chimes","brief silence at the vow"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: त्वदादेशं → त्वत्-आदेशम् (द् + आ); ममाद्यैव → मम अद्य एव (सन्धि).
FAQs
The speaker agrees to the king’s command and asks that old age be imposed upon them so they may become youthful immediately and attain/see a beautiful form.
The verse highlights the tension between duty/obedience to authority and the human desire to avoid decay, reflecting the Purāṇic concern with impermanence and bodily transformation.
From the verse alone, the speaker is not explicitly identified; it is a person addressing a king (nṛpa) in a dialogue context within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa, Adhyaya 78.