Shloka 66
Yayāti’s Summons to Heaven and the Teaching on Old Age, the Five-Element Body, and Self–Body Discernment
ययातिरुवाच । कस्माज्जरा समुत्पन्ना कस्मात्कायं प्रपीडयेत् । मम विस्तरतस्त्वं च वक्तुमर्हसि सत्तम
yayātiruvāca | kasmājjarā samutpannā kasmātkāyaṃ prapīḍayet | mama vistaratastvaṃ ca vaktumarhasi sattama
Yayāti berkata: “Dari apakah usia tua timbul, dan mengapa ia menindas tubuh? Wahai yang terbaik di antara orang saleh, jelaskanlah kepadaku dengan rinci.”
King Yayāti
Concept: A sincere question about the origin and mechanism of suffering (old age) is the doorway to higher understanding and right practice.
Application: Ask precise questions about causes of suffering—habits, ethics, mind—and seek guidance from trustworthy teachers; turn inquiry into disciplined practice.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"King Yayāti, crowned yet visibly troubled, steps down from his throne and folds his hands, his posture shifting from command to humility. Before him stands Mātali, calm and luminous, as if carrying the clarity of the heavens; the space between them feels like a bridge from royal power to spiritual inquiry.","primary_figures":["King Yayāti","Mātali (celestial charioteer)"],"setting":"A royal hall opening onto a terrace where the sky is visible—suggesting the meeting of earthly kingship and celestial wisdom.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["sky blue","pearl white","gold","deep violet","copper"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Yayāti with ornate crown and silk garments, hands in añjali, facing Mātali with a subtle halo, gold leaf on jewelry and architectural arches, rich red-green textiles, stylized lotus motifs framing the dialogue as sacred instruction.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: refined court terrace scene with delicate brushwork, soft sky gradient behind Mātali, Yayāti’s expression earnest and questioning, cool palette with gentle highlights, lyrical naturalism in drapery and posture.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, iconic profiles of Yayāti and Mātali, strong primary pigments, emphasis on expressive eyes and hand gestures (añjali), temple-wall narrative composition with ornamental borders.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: dialogue scene framed by lotus creepers and cloud motifs, central medallion suggesting ‘jarā’ as a withering lotus, deep blue background with gold accents, devotional symbols subtly indicating Vishnu’s overarching order."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["soft court ambience","distant conch","gentle drone (tanpura)","brief silence after the question"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ययातिरुवाच = ययातिः + उवाच; कस्माज्जरा = कस्मात् + जरा; कस्मात्कायम् = कस्मात् + कायम्.
FAQs
He asks about the cause (origin) of jarā—old age/decay—and why it specifically troubles the physical body, requesting a detailed explanation.
By itself it functions as a dialogue prompt: it introduces a philosophical inquiry into aging and embodiment, setting up the forthcoming teaching (typically framed in terms of causality, time, and karma).
It implies the value of inquiry (jijñāsā): understanding the causes of suffering—here, aging—so one can respond with discernment rather than denial, and orient life toward dharma and lasting spiritual aims.