Shloka 21
Yayāti Ensnared by Desire: Gandharva Marriage, Aśvamedha, and the Demand to See the Worlds
राजोवाच । एवमस्तु महाभागे करोमि तव सुप्रियम् । समाहूय सुतश्रेष्ठं राज्यभोगे विनिःस्पृहम्
rājovāca | evamastu mahābhāge karomi tava supriyam | samāhūya sutaśreṣṭhaṃ rājyabhoge viniḥspṛham
Le roi dit : «Qu’il en soit ainsi, ô bienheureuse. Je ferai ce qui te sera le plus agréable. Je ferai venir mon fils éminent, détaché des jouissances de la royauté».
The King (rājā)
Concept: Even when driven by personal motives, a king must act through proper channels—consulting heirs and maintaining governance; the son’s dispassion hints at higher dharma.
Application: When making major decisions, involve responsible stakeholders and prefer counsel from those less attached to personal gain; cultivate some ‘vinispṛhatā’ in daily choices.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"King Yayāti, still under the spell of affection, speaks with decisive authority, promising to fulfill the request. Messengers hurry through palace corridors toward the prince’s quarters, while in the background the prince sits calm and unenticed by royal luxuries, embodying quiet renunciation amid splendor.","primary_figures":["King Yayāti","Aśrubindumatī","Amitakaṃdhara (the son/prince)","Royal messengers"],"setting":"palace hall with a visible corridor leading to a serene inner chamber where the prince resides; symbols of kingship (throne, parasol) contrasted with the prince’s simplicity","lighting_mood":"golden dawn shifting toward clear daylight (decision and clarity)","color_palette":["sunlit gold","cream white","lapis blue","maroon","sage green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Yayāti on a throne gestures in assent; gold leaf on throne, crown, and royal parasol; attendants and messengers in dynamic poses; in a side panel-like space, the prince sits composed with minimal ornaments, emphasizing detachment; rich reds/greens and ornate borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: split-scene composition—court decision in the foreground, quiet prince in a shaded chamber beyond; delicate textiles, refined faces; soft daylight; subtle narrative flow through architecture and corridors.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: iconic palace interior with bold outlines; Yayāti’s commanding hand gesture; messengers mid-stride; the prince seated in calm posture with expressive eyes; warm palette with patterned backgrounds like temple murals.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symmetrical palace scene with ornate floral borders; deep blue and gold accents; the prince depicted as a serene focal counterpoint to courtly bustle; lotus motifs suggesting inner purity amid worldly power."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["footsteps in corridors","court drum soft","conch in distance","rustle of palm-leaf orders","tanpura drone"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: राजोवाच = राजा + उवाच; एवमस्तु = एवम् + अस्तु.
FAQs
The speaker is the king. He promises the noble lady that he will do what pleases her and will summon his exemplary son, who is detached from royal enjoyments.
The verse highlights detachment (vairāgya)—the ideal of being free from craving even for power and luxury—presented through a prince who does not long for the pleasures of sovereignty.
While no deity is named here, the verse supports a common Purāṇic value central to Bhakti traditions: inner renunciation and humility, which prepare a person for devotion and dharmic action without attachment to status or enjoyment.