Shloka 21
Within the Greatness of Guru-tīrtha: The Episode of Nahuṣa and Aśokasundarī
in the Cyavana account
अयमेव स सत्यात्मा मम भर्ता सुवीर्यवान् । मनो मे धावतेऽत्यर्थं शोकाकुलितविह्वलम्
ayameva sa satyātmā mama bhartā suvīryavān | mano me dhāvate'tyarthaṃ śokākulitavihvalam
まさに彼こそ真実の魂をもつ、武勇すぐれた我が夫。わが心は激しく駆け巡り、悲嘆に乱され、動揺し打ちひしがれている。
Unspecified female speaker (contextual lament; exact speaker not identifiable from the single verse alone)
Concept: Attachment and grief surge through the mind; recognition of virtue in the beloved intensifies longing—requiring steadiness and higher refuge.
Application: When grief spikes, name the emotion and ground the mind through japa, breath, and seeking wise counsel; let love become protective action, not panic.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shringara
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devoted wife stands with trembling hands, eyes brimming, as if she has just recognized her husband after long separation. Her mind’s turmoil is shown through swirling scarf-like lines and wind-tossed hair, while her gaze remains fixed—loving and pained—on the distant heroic figure.","primary_figures":["lamenting wife (speaker)","husband (truthful, mighty; seen or implied)"],"setting":"A forest clearing or palace courtyard edge—an in-between space that heightens separation; scattered flowers, a fallen garland, and a path leading away.","lighting_mood":"moonlit","color_palette":["silver moonlight","midnight blue","rose red","ash gray","soft jasmine white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: the grieving wife in ornate yet slightly disheveled attire, gold leaf highlighting tears and jewelry; the husband shown at a distance with a faint halo; rich crimson and emerald textiles, dramatic but devotional composition emphasizing fidelity and longing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate emotional portrait with delicate lines; cool nocturnal palette, the wife’s expressive eyes and subtle hand gestures; a distant figure on a path, trees and hills softly layered to suggest separation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, stylized tearful eyes, rhythmic curves indicating mental agitation; warm red/yellow background with deep green borders, the husband rendered as a heroic silhouette with icon-like clarity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central figure of the devoted wife framed by floral borders; swirling vine motifs echo the restless mind; deep blue ground with gold accents, lotus petals scattered like broken hopes, devotional aesthetic despite human drama."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["night insects","distant flute","soft sobbing hush","temple bell far away"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: धावते+अत्यर्थम्→धावतेऽत्यर्थम् (अ + अ = ’); शोक+आकुलित+विह्वलम्→शोकाकुलितविह्वलम् (समास/सन्धि)।
FAQs
It portrays intense grief (śoka) causing the mind to race and become disturbed and bewildered—an image of inner turmoil in separation or crisis.
Satyātmā suggests a person whose inner nature is aligned with truth—reliable, principled, and steadfast in dharma.
The verse highlights how grief can destabilize the mind, implying the value of cultivating steadiness (dhairya) and discernment even amid sorrow.