Shloka 95
Narmadā
Revā) Tīrtha Greatness: The Gandharva Maidens’ Curse Narrative (Acchodā Episode Begins
नाकालेऽहं व्रती कुर्यामतो दारपरिग्रहम् । न क्रिया फलमाप्नोति क्रियाकालं न वेत्ति यः
nākāle'haṃ vratī kuryāmato dāraparigraham | na kriyā phalamāpnoti kriyākālaṃ na vetti yaḥ
Moi, observateur de vœux, je ne prendrai pas d’épouse en un temps inopportun. Un rite ne porte pas de fruit pour qui n’en connaît pas l’heure prescrite.
Unspecified (verse presented as a first-person statement within the narrative context of Svarga-khaṇḍa)
Concept: Ritual and life-transitions (like marriage) bear fruit only when performed with correct timing and rule-awareness; ignorance of kāla undermines karma-phala.
Application: Before major commitments or religious observances, learn the proper tithi/vidhi, consult competent guidance, and avoid impulsive ‘out-of-season’ actions; cultivate punctuality and preparedness in daily sādhana.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A stern brahmacārī stands beside a small fire-altar, holding a palm-leaf almanac as if weighing the right tithi. Behind him, a lotus-emblazoned sky suggests Viṣṇu’s cosmic order, while a veiled bridal garland rests untouched, signaling restraint and dharma over impulse.","primary_figures":["brahmacari ascetic","personified Kāla (subtle, symbolic)","unseen Vishnu presence (lotus/śaṅkha-cakra motifs)"],"setting":"Hermitage courtyard with a modest yajña-kuṇḍa, tulasī planter at the edge, and a hanging bell; a quiet threshold between household life and ascetic vow.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["saffron ochre","smoke gray","lotus pink","antique gold","deep indigo"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a composed brahmacārī near a small yajña-kuṇḍa, holding a palm-leaf pañcāṅga; untouched wedding garland and ritual vessels arranged with strict symmetry; gold leaf halo motifs, rich maroon and emerald borders, gem-studded ornaments on symbolic śaṅkha-cakra emblems, South Indian iconographic clarity, ornate arch frame.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a quiet āśrama courtyard with delicate linework; the ascetic studies a pañcāṅga while a garland lies aside; cool indigo shadows, pale lotus-pink sky, refined faces, slender trees and distant hills, lyrical stillness emphasizing dharma and timing.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, warm yellow-red-green pigments; brahmacārī beside a stylized fire-altar, pañcāṅga in hand; decorative lotus and śaṅkha-cakra motifs in the background, temple-wall aesthetic, large expressive eyes, rhythmic floral borders.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central motif of a lotus and śaṅkha-cakra framing a disciplined ascetic; tulasī plant at the margin with intricate floral borders; deep blue ground with gold highlights, symmetrical ritual vessels, peacocks perched quietly, devotional orderliness rather than romance."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","low fire crackle","silence between phrases","distant conch shell"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नाकालेऽहं = न + अकाले + अहम् (’ = अवग्रह after vowel sandhi); फलमाप्नोति = फलम् + आप्नोति.
FAQs
It teaches that ritual actions (kriyā) bear fruit only when performed with knowledge of the proper time (kriyā-kāla); timing is part of dharma and determines efficacy.
It links vow-based discipline (vrata) with discerning “proper time,” stating that even major life acts like taking a wife should be done only when appropriate, not impulsively or out of season.
The broader lesson is discernment: right action includes right timing. Without understanding context and appropriateness, even well-intended actions may fail to produce good outcomes.