Shloka 31
The Account of Sukalā: Chastity Overcomes Kāma and an Indra-like Trial
मामेवं परिरक्षते दमगुणैः शौचैस्तु धर्मः सदा सत्यं पश्य समागतं मम पुरः शांतिक्षमाभ्यांयुतम् । बोधश्चातिमहाबलः पृथुयशा यो मां न मुंचेत्कदा बद्धाहं दृढबंधनैः स्वगुणजैः सांनिध्यमेवं गतः
māmevaṃ parirakṣate damaguṇaiḥ śaucaistu dharmaḥ sadā satyaṃ paśya samāgataṃ mama puraḥ śāṃtikṣamābhyāṃyutam | bodhaścātimahābalaḥ pṛthuyaśā yo māṃ na muṃcetkadā baddhāhaṃ dṛḍhabaṃdhanaiḥ svaguṇajaiḥ sāṃnidhyamevaṃ gataḥ
ດັ່ງນັ້ນຂ້ອຍຈຶ່ງຖືກປົກປ້ອງໂດຍຄຸນແຫ່ງການຂ່ມຕົນ; ໂດຍຄວາມບໍລິສຸດ ທຳຍ່ອມດຳລົງຢູ່ເສມອ ຈົ່ງເບິ່ງ—ສັດຈະເອງໄດ້ມາຢືນຢູ່ຕໍ່ໜ້າຂ້ອຍ ພ້ອມດ້ວຍຄວາມສະຫງົບ ແລະຄວາມອົດທົນ ແລະປັນຍາຮູ້ແຈ້ງອັນມີພະລັງຍິ່ງ ມີຊື່ສຽງກວ້າງໄກ ບໍ່ເຄີຍປ່ອຍຂ້ອຍເລີຍ ຂ້ອຍຖືກຜູກແນ່ນດ້ວຍພັນທະອັນແຂງແຮງທີ່ເກີດຈາກຄຸນຂອງຕົນເອງ ແລະດັ່ງນັ້ນຈຶ່ງມາຮອດສະພາບແຫ່ງການຢູ່ໃກ້ຊິດນີ້
Unclear from the provided excerpt (requires surrounding verses to confirm the dialogue frame, often Pulastya → Bhīṣma in Bhūmi-khaṇḍa).
Concept: Virtues themselves become living guardians: self-restraint, purity, dharma, truth, peace, forbearance, and understanding bind and protect the soul through self-generated ‘bonds’ of character.
Application: Treat virtues as daily companions: practice one concrete act each day for dama (restraint), śauca (cleanliness), satya (truthfulness), kṣamā (forbearance), and śānti (non-reactivity).
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An allegorical vision: a central figure (the protected self) stands encircled by luminous personifications—Dama as a calm warrior with lowered weapon, Śauca as a white-robed purifier holding a water pot, Dharma as a regal judge, Satya as a radiant being like a sun-disc, Śānti and Kṣamā as twin gentle guardians, and Bodha as a lion-like sage of immense strength. Golden ‘bonds’ made of light—born from the figure’s own virtues—wrap not as chains of captivity but as armor of steadfast character.","primary_figures":["personified Dama (self-restraint)","Śauca (purity)","Dharma","Satya (Truth)","Śānti (peace)","Kṣamā (forbearance)","Bodha (understanding)","the protected self (narrative ‘I’)"],"setting":"a liminal inner-court of consciousness rendered as a celestial hall with lotus pillars and a subtle mandala floor","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["pure white","sun-gold","lapis blue","lotus pink","smoky violet"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a central human figure encircled by six to seven personified virtues with gold leaf halos, Satya as a blazing golden disc-bodied deity, Dharma enthroned with ornate crown, Śauca in white with a kalaśa, Dama as a composed kṣatriya-guardian, Śānti and Kṣamā as gentle twin figures, Bodha as a powerful sage with lion-emblem, thick gold embellishment on halos and borders, jewel-toned reds/greens and gem-studded ornaments.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: allegorical mandala scene with delicate brushwork, virtues as refined courtly figures around the central self, cool blues and pinks with soft gold wash, expressive eyes and subtle gestures, lotus-pillared pavilion floating in mist, the ‘bonds of virtue’ painted as thin luminous ribbons.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines and iconic symmetry, central figure protected by a ring of deities representing virtues, strong reds/yellows/greens with white highlights for Śauca, Satya as a radiant circular aura, Bodha emphasized with powerful stance, temple-wall composition like a moral yantra.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: circular composition like a lotus mandala, virtues arranged as decorative yet narrative figures, deep indigo background with gold and white detailing, intricate floral borders, peacocks and lotus motifs, Satya as a central radiant medallion above the protected figure, luminous ribbons forming protective knots."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["temple bells","conch shell","deep drone","measured hand cymbals","resonant silence at the end"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: माम्+एवम् → मामेवम्; शौचैः+तु → शौचैस्तु; शान्ति-क्षमाभ्याम्+युतम् → शांतिक्षमाभ्यांयुतम्; बोधः+च → बोधश्च; न+मुञ्चेत्+कदा → न मुंचेत्कदा; बद्धा+अहम् → बद्धाहम्; सान्निध्यम्+एवम् → सांनिध्यमेवं. Note: ‘बद्धाहं’ in IAST suggests ‘बद्धा अहम्’; many recensions read ‘बद्धोऽहम्’.
FAQs
The verse presents self-restraint (dama) and purity (śauca) as safeguarding forces, with Dharma remaining steady through purity and Truth (satya) appearing alongside peace (śānti) and forbearance (kṣamā).
It suggests moral causality: one’s cultivated dispositions and virtues become binding commitments that hold a person close to righteous conduct, making ethical life a stable, self-sustaining discipline.
By personifying these ideals as present and active, the verse teaches that inner discipline and purity make righteousness tangible in one’s life, drawing supportive virtues into one’s immediate experience and conduct.