Shloka 12
The Glory of the Mother-and-Father Tīrtha
Within the Vena Episode
सुकर्मोवाच । भवंतमुक्तवान्यो वै सरित्तीरे तु सारसः । ब्रह्माणं त्वं महाज्ञानं तं विद्धि परमेश्वरम्
sukarmovāca | bhavaṃtamuktavānyo vai sarittīre tu sārasaḥ | brahmāṇaṃ tvaṃ mahājñānaṃ taṃ viddhi parameśvaram
スカルマーは言った。「川辺で汝に語りかけたその白鳥を、深き智慧ある者よ、梵天ブラフマーその人、至上の主であると知れ。」
Sukarma
Concept: The divine may teach through avian or humble forms; recognize Brahmā as the revealer of śāstra-knowledge in the cosmic order.
Application: Do not dismiss instruction due to the messenger’s appearance; cultivate the ability to see sacred purpose behind ordinary encounters.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: river
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Sukarmā, composed and radiant with inner certainty, points toward the memory of the riverbank encounter, revealing that the swan/crane-like speaker was Brahmā himself. In the background, a faint vision appears: Brahmā emerging from a lotus, superimposed over the bird-form, linking disguise to cosmic identity.","primary_figures":["Sukarmā","Pippala","Brahmā (visionary overlay)"],"setting":"Āśrama courtyard near a river, with a lotus pond motif echoing Brahmā’s origin","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["gold leaf","lotus white","vermillion","peacock blue","leaf green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Sukarmā standing in blessing-gesture, Pippala listening, behind them a gold-leaf vision of Brahmā seated on a lotus with four faces, the bird-form subtly merged into the aura; rich reds and greens, ornate jewelry, embossed gold on lotus petals and halos, traditional South Indian iconographic symmetry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate dialogue scene with delicate lines, Sukarmā’s calm expression, Pippala attentive, a translucent Brahmā-lotus vision in the sky like a watercolor apparition, cool blues and greens, refined naturalism with gentle spiritual symbolism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized Brahmā-lotus vision framed like a temple panel, bold outlines, Sukarmā and Pippala in profile with expressive eyes, warm red-yellow-green palette, rhythmic lotus and wave patterns connecting river and creation.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central lotus medallion with Brahmā, flanked by Sukarmā and Pippala in narrative panels, dense floral borders, conch-chakra motifs hinting Vaiṣṇava frame, deep blues with gold and white lotuses, textile-like intricacy."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["soft conch shell cue","river murmur","page-turn of palm leaves","brief silence after revelation"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सुकर्मोवाच = सुकर्मा + उवाच; भवंतमुक्तवान्यो = भवन्तम् + उक्तवान् + यः (morphological segmentation; sandhi/orthography in transmission); सरित्तीरे = सरित्-तीरे (तत्पुरुष); महाज्ञानं = महा-ज्ञानम् (कर्मधारय).
FAQs
It identifies the swan (sārasa) who spoke on the riverbank as Brahmā himself, described here as Parameśvara (the Supreme Lord).
Purāṇic texts often portray deities teaching or testing beings through subtle or disguised forms; the swan is also a traditional symbol of discernment and spiritual wisdom.
It encourages discernment and reverence: profound guidance may come through unexpected forms, and one should recognize the divine presence behind a teacher’s appearance.