Shloka 13
The Glory of the Mother-and-Father Tīrtha
Within the Vena Episode
अन्यत्किं पृच्छसे ब्रूहि तमेवं प्रवदाम्यहम् । विष्णुरुवाच । एवमुक्तः स धर्मात्मा सुकर्मा नृपनंदन
anyatkiṃ pṛcchase brūhi tamevaṃ pravadāmyaham | viṣṇuruvāca | evamuktaḥ sa dharmātmā sukarmā nṛpanaṃdana
“മറ്റെന്താണ് ചോദിക്കുന്നത്? പറയുക; ഈവിധം തന്നേ ഞാൻ വിശദീകരിക്കും.” വിഷ്ണു പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ രാജകുമാരാ! ഇങ്ങനെ പറയപ്പെട്ടപ്പോൾ ആ ധർമ്മാത്മാവായ സുകർമൻ…
Viṣṇu (explicitly marked: “viṣṇuruvāca”); narrator continues addressing a prince (nṛpanaṃdana).
Concept: Right questioning (praśna) invites right exposition; divine instruction adapts to the seeker’s needs and proceeds stepwise.
Application: Ask focused questions; receive teachings sequentially rather than demanding totality at once—apply learning as it unfolds.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Viṣṇu, serene and majestic, turns slightly toward a young prince seated respectfully, inviting further questions with a calm, open palm gesture. Behind them, the narrative world feels layered—like a tapestry—hinting that another dialogue (Sukarmā and Pippala) is about to unfold within Viṣṇu’s telling.","primary_figures":["Viṣṇu (as narrator)","Prince (nṛpanandana)","Sukarmā (implied)"],"setting":"Royal pavilion opening to a sacred grove; scrolls and ritual vessels indicate a dharma-assembly","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["sapphire blue","antique gold","ivory white","deep maroon","forest green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Viṣṇu seated on a jeweled throne with gold-leaf aura, prince kneeling with folded hands, ornate pillars and lamps, embossed gold on crown and halo, rich reds/greens, conch and discus motifs on borders, layered narrative vignette panels in the background.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: refined courtly scene with lyrical restraint, Viṣṇu in blue with gentle expression, prince in pale garments, delicate architectural lines, soft evening lamplight, cool palette with warm highlights, subtle inset showing the sages’ dialogue as a miniature-within-miniature.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: frontal Viṣṇu with bold outlines and large eyes, prince at side, stylized lamps and pillars, red-yellow-green pigments, rhythmic ornamentation, temple-wall composition emphasizing didactic authority.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central Viṣṇu figure framed by lotus borders and conch-chakra patterns, prince depicted in devotional posture, intricate floral filigree, deep blue ground with gold highlights, narrative medallions around the border hinting at the embedded story."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["temple bells","soft drone (tanpura)","distant conch","quiet assembly murmur fading to silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अन्यत्किं = अन्यत् + किम्; प्रवदाम्यहम् = प्रवदामि + अहम् (y-insertion); एवमुक्तः = एवम् + उक्तः; धर्मात्मा = धर्म-आत्मा (बहुव्रीहि); नृपनंदन = नृप-नन्दन (तत्पुरुष).
FAQs
Viṣṇu is the speaker, indicated by the explicit tag “viṣṇuruvāca” (“Viṣṇu said”).
It frames a teacher–disciple style exchange: the deity invites further questions and promises a clear explanation, emphasizing openness to inquiry and instruction grounded in dharma.
The verse’s narrative voice addresses a royal listener (“O prince”). The specific identity depends on the surrounding verses of Adhyaya 62, but within this line it functions as an honorific for the hearer in the dialogue frame.