Shloka 31
The Tale of Sukalā: Illusion, Desire, and the Testing of a Chaste Wife
within the Vena Cycle
पूर्वदृष्टा यदा नारी तामेव परिचिंतयेत् । चिंत्यमानस्य पुंसस्तु नार्यारूपं पुनःपुनः
pūrvadṛṣṭā yadā nārī tāmeva pariciṃtayet | ciṃtyamānasya puṃsastu nāryārūpaṃ punaḥpunaḥ
「男がかつてある女を見たならば、彼は彼女のことばかりを考え続ける。そのような想いに耽る男にとって、その女の姿は幾度となく心に浮かぶのである。」
Unspecified (narrative instruction within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa; likely within a Pulastya–Bhīṣma style discourse, but not inferable from the single verse alone)
Concept: Repeated mental dwelling (cintana) strengthens saṃskāras; the mind recreates forms again and again, binding the thinker.
Application: Notice repetitive thought-loops; replace them with mantra-japa, scriptural reading, and intentional attention training.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A solitary man sits beneath a tree, eyes half-closed, while translucent images of the same woman’s face arise repeatedly like reflections in rippling water around his head. The scene emphasizes inner cinema—thought-forms looping—contrasted with a small lamp of discernment placed beside him, suggesting the possibility of redirecting the mind.","primary_figures":["A contemplative man (generic)","A recurring thought-form of a woman (mental image)"],"setting":"Quiet forest edge near a still pond; reeds and lotus leaves mirror the theme of reflection and repetition.","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["soft green","pond blue","lotus pink","warm amber","earth brown"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Seated figure in meditation posture with stylized thought-aura containing repeated feminine visage motifs; gold leaf used for the aura and the small lamp of viveka; rich reds and greens, ornate border, devotional didactic composition.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: Lyrical forest with delicate foliage, a calm pond reflecting faint repeated faces; refined facial features, gentle washes, cool natural palette, subtle emotional restraint.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Bold outlines for the seated figure; repeated face motifs in a circular thought-halo; natural pigments with strong greens and yellows, temple-wall didactic clarity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Central seated figure framed by lotus borders; repeated face motifs arranged like petals around the head; deep blue pond band at bottom, intricate floral filigree, gold accents highlighting the ‘mind-lotus’ theme."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["flowing water","birds","soft temple bell","silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tām+eva→tāmeva; puṃsaḥ+tu→puṃsastu; nāryā+rūpam→nāryārūpam; punaḥ+punaḥ retained as repetition.
FAQs
It describes how a prior perception (seeing someone) can become a persistent mental impression, causing the mind to repeatedly recreate the same image.
It implicitly warns that indulging in obsessive contemplation strengthens attachment; therefore, guarding attention and redirecting thought is part of ethical self-control.
No. This verse is primarily about mental fixation and recurring imagery; any devotional application would be interpretive rather than explicit here.