Shloka 42
The Tale of Sukalā: Testing Pativratā Fidelity and the Body-as-House Teaching
किं करिष्यति तेनैवं भवती खिद्यते वृथा । कस्मान्नाशयते चांगं दिव्यं हेमसमप्रभम्
kiṃ kariṣyati tenaivaṃ bhavatī khidyate vṛthā | kasmānnāśayate cāṃgaṃ divyaṃ hemasamaprabham
അതുകൊണ്ട് എന്തു ഫലം? ഇങ്ങനെ നീ വ്യർത്ഥമായി ഖേദിക്കുന്നു. സ്വർണ്ണസമപ്രഭയുള്ള ആ ദിവ്യദേഹത്തെ അവൻ എന്തുകൊണ്ട് നശിപ്പിക്കുന്നില്ല?
Unspecified (dialogue context not provided for Adhyaya 53)
Concept: Grief that cannot change the past is futile; protect the precious human body rather than ruin it through despair.
Application: When abandoned or wronged, avoid self-destructive choices; seek support, prayer, and constructive action; treat the body as a sacred trust.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An elder figure speaks firmly to a grieving woman whose face is wet with tears; his hand is raised in a calming gesture, as if stopping her from collapsing into despair. Her body is described as ‘golden-radiant,’ so the artist shows a subtle inner glow around her, contrasting with the shadow of sorrow.","primary_figures":["grieving young woman","elder counselor/sage-like figure"],"setting":"quiet inner courtyard with a small lamp, a low seat, and a tulasi pedestal in the background","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["warm gold","lamp orange","smoky violet","sandalwood beige","deep green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: counselor with authoritative mudrā of reassurance, the woman seated with a faint golden aura; ornate arch frame, gold leaf on jewelry and lamp flame, rich crimson backdrop, emerald and peacock-blue textiles, traditional South Indian facial stylization.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate counseling scene on a veranda; soft washes, fine detailing of tears and textiles; pale gold aura around the heroine, cool twilight tones, delicate floral motifs and distant trees.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, expressive eyes; the woman’s ‘hema-samaprabha’ shown as a yellow-gold body tone; lamp and tulasi shrine behind; red-yellow-green dominant palette with rhythmic decorative borders.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central counseling vignette framed by lotus and creeper borders; small lamp motifs repeated; deep indigo ground with gold highlights; peacocks and floral filigree surrounding the scene."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["single temple bell strike","low drone (tanpura)","night insects","gentle silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तेनैवम् = तेन + एवम्; कस्मान्नाशयते = कस्मात् + नाशयते (त् + न → न्न); चांगम् = च + अङ्गम्; हेमसमप्रभम् = हेम-सम-प्रभम् (समास)
FAQs
It criticizes futile grief and questions attachment to the body, implying a turn toward discernment and detachment (vairāgya).
It highlights the allure and perceived perfection of the body, which can intensify attachment—yet the verse questions why such a body is not relinquished or transcended.
The speaker cannot be identified from the single-verse excerpt alone; the surrounding verses of Bhūmi-khaṇḍa, Adhyaya 53 are needed to confirm the dialogue pair.