Shloka 4
The Account of Sukalā: Chastity Overcomes Kāma and an Indra-like Trial
एवं वाक्यं ततः श्रुत्वा हर्षेण महतान्विता । समालोक्य महद्वृत्तं कामस्य च दुरात्मनः
evaṃ vākyaṃ tataḥ śrutvā harṣeṇa mahatānvitā | samālokya mahadvṛttaṃ kāmasya ca durātmanaḥ
Mendengar kata-kata itu, ia dipenuhi sukacita yang besar; dan, menyaksikan beratnya peristiwa yang ditimbulkan oleh Kāma yang berhati jahat, ia memahami apa yang telah terjadi.
Narrator (contextual; not explicitly marked in the verse)
Concept: Even when joy arises, one should discern the ethical weight of events and the motives of disruptive forces.
Application: When praise or good news comes, pause and assess consequences; do not let excitement blind you to manipulative impulses.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shringara
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A noble lady, eyes bright with sudden joy, pauses mid-step as she perceives a grave shift in the air—an unseen disturbance attributed to Kāma. Around her, subtle signs of moral tension appear: petals swirl unnaturally, and the atmosphere feels both festive and foreboding.","primary_figures":["A chaste noble lady (unnamed in excerpt)","Kāmadeva (suggested as an unseen or faintly visible presence)"],"setting":"A palace garden or hermitage courtyard with flowering vines, scattered petals, and a quiet threshold space suggesting a turning point.","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["lotus pink","sandalwood beige","emerald green","dusky violet","antique gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a poised noble lady in a garden pavilion, ornate silk garments and temple jewelry, gold leaf halos and borders; faint, stylized Kāma motif in the background as a moral disturbance; rich reds and greens, gem-studded ornaments, lotus and creeper patterns, South Indian iconographic symmetry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical garden scene with delicate blossoms and drifting petals; the lady’s refined face shows joy tempered by concern; a subtle, almost transparent Kāma presence suggested by a bow silhouette; cool greens and soft pinks, fine brushwork, gentle atmospheric depth.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and expressive eyes; the lady stands in a stylized garden with curling vines; a symbolic Kāma emblem (sugarcane bow) appears behind her; natural pigment palette with dominant greens, reds, and warm yellows, temple-wall compositional balance.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ornate floral borders and lotus motifs; central figure of the lady in devotional poise, with symbolic petals swirling like a moral test; deep blues and gold accents, intricate botanical detailing, peacocks at the margins to heighten the sense of auspicious-yet-testing atmosphere."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","garden birds","rustling leaves","distant conch shell"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: महतान्विता = महता + अन्विता (अ + अ → आ; ता + अ → तान्… लेख्यरूपेण). महद्वृत्तम् = महत् + वृत्तम् (त् + व् → द्व्).
FAQs
Kāma is the personified deity of desire (often identified with Cupid), here described as durātmā—“wicked-minded”—in the context of causing a troubling or weighty development.
The verse explicitly states harṣa—joy—describing her as “endowed with great joy” upon hearing the words.
It signals a moral caution: ungoverned desire can lead to serious consequences (mahadvṛtta), so desire is portrayed as potentially disruptive when not aligned with dharma.