Shloka 108
The Account and Merit of Śivadūtī
with the Nāga-tīrtha at Puṣkara
एतासां शृणु मे देवि भक्ष्यमेकं मयोचितम् । कथ्यमानं वरारोहे कालरात्रि महाप्रभे
etāsāṃ śṛṇu me devi bhakṣyamekaṃ mayocitam | kathyamānaṃ varārohe kālarātri mahāprabhe
Ô Déesse, écoute-moi au sujet d’une offrande de nourriture parmi celles-ci, que je tiens pour convenable. Tandis que je la décris, ô toi aux hanches gracieuses—ô Kālarātri, grande Dame rayonnante—écoute attentivement.
Unspecified male narrator addressing Devī (context suggests Śiva/Maheśvara speaking to Pārvatī/Devī, but not explicitly stated in the provided verse alone)
Concept: Ritual propriety (aucitya) in offerings and conduct is taught through a guru-like transmission to Devī, implying that even small details of food/offerings matter in maintaining auspiciousness and protection.
Application: Before any vow, festival, or household rite, choose offerings thoughtfully, keep them clean, and follow a consistent, respectful procedure rather than improvising carelessly.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A solemn teaching moment: Mahādeva, serene and ash-smeared, sits beside Devī in a quiet shrine-like chamber, explaining a single, carefully prepared food-offering placed on a leaf-plate. Devī listens attentively, her gaze steady, as a small lamp flame trembles—suggesting the gravity of ritual detail and protective dharma.","primary_figures":["Mahādeva (Śiva)","Devī (Pārvatī/Kālarātri aspect suggested by address)"],"setting":"Inner sanctum-like domestic shrine with a low altar, leaf-plate offering, water pot, and protective yantra-like motifs on the wall","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["lamp-flame gold","ash white","deep vermilion","midnight indigo","leaf green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Mahādeva instructing Devī on an auspicious food-offering, both seated on a jeweled pedestal, gold leaf halo around their heads, rich red and emerald textiles, gem-studded ornaments, a small brass lamp and leaf-plate offering in the foreground, ornate arch (prabhāvali) framing the scene, traditional South Indian iconography with intricate floral borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: an intimate Śiva–Pārvatī teaching scene in a quiet pavilion, delicate brushwork, cool indigo shadows, soft facial expressions, a small offering plate and lamp between them, lyrical naturalism with a hint of Himalayan garden outside, refined lines and gentle color gradations.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, natural pigment palette, Śiva and Devī seated in profile with large expressive eyes, a glowing oil lamp and offering plate emphasized, red-yellow-green dominance with indigo background, temple-wall aesthetic and symmetrical decorative motifs.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional instructional tableau adapted into a Vaishnava-friendly shrine setting—ornate lotus borders, deep blue background with gold highlights, a central offering plate and lamp, floral festoons and patterned textiles; include subtle lotus motifs and a sanctified atmosphere reminiscent of Nathdwara ornamentation."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","oil-lamp crackle","low drone (tanpura)","gentle silence between phrases"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भक्ष्यमेकं → भक्ष्यम् एकम्; मयोचितम् → मया उचितम्; (उचितम् is from √वच् with उपसर्ग उ- per traditional derivation; treated as PPP meaning 'proper')
FAQs
Kālarātri is an epithet of Devī, indicating a fierce, time-associated form (the “night” of time), invoked here as a majestic and powerful Goddess.
The speaker introduces that he will describe one particular “bhakṣya” (edible offering/food) deemed appropriate among several items previously mentioned.
It models reverent instruction: the speaker respectfully asks the Goddess to listen, framing the teaching as a careful, appropriate prescription rather than a casual preference.