Shloka 84
Yayāti’s Summons to Heaven and the Teaching on Old Age, the Five-Element Body, and Self–Body Discernment
नारीं च संश्रयेत्प्राणी पीडितः कामवह्निना । मैथुनस्य प्रसंगेन मूर्छितः कामकर्शितः
nārīṃ ca saṃśrayetprāṇī pīḍitaḥ kāmavahninā | maithunasya prasaṃgena mūrchitaḥ kāmakarśitaḥ
കാമാഗ്നിയാൽ പീഡിതനായ പ്രാണി സ്ത്രീയെ ആശ്രയിക്കുന്നു; മൈഥുനപ്രസംഗത്തിൽ ആകർഷിതനായി അവൻ മൂർച്ചിതനായി, കാമത്താൽ ക്ഷീണിക്കുന്നു।
Unspecified (narrative voice not identifiable from a single verse excerpt)
Concept: Desire creates a cycle of torment and dependency; seeking ‘refuge’ in sensuality intensifies exhaustion and mental clouding rather than relief.
Application: Notice the ‘refuge reflex’ under stress; substitute with devotional refuge: nāma-japa, brief pranayama, satsanga, and vrata-niyamas (especially on Ekādaśī) to break compulsive loops.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lone figure, scorched by an unseen inner blaze, staggers toward a mirage-like embrace that offers momentary shade yet deepens the heat. The ‘kāma-vahni’ is depicted as a red-orange aura around the chest and head, while the face shows faintness and depletion—eyes half-closed, breath shallow—contrasted with a distant, cool blue silhouette of Viṣṇu’s sanctuary representing the true refuge.","primary_figures":["tormented seeker (gṛhastha/young man as archetype)","symbolic feminine figure (as sense-object refuge motif)","distant Viṣṇu shrine silhouette (true āśraya symbol)"],"setting":"twilight courtyard outside a temple boundary—one side warm and smoky, the other side cool with a visible temple doorway far away","lighting_mood":"moonlit","color_palette":["ember red","burnt orange","indigo blue","pale ivory","charcoal black"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: dramatic moral allegory—central figure with a glowing kāma-agni aura, reaching toward a stylized sensual refuge; in the background a small Viṣṇu shrine with śaṅkha-cakra, gold leaf radiance around the shrine contrasting the smoky foreground; rich reds/greens, ornate jewelry details, and gem-like highlights emphasizing temptation versus true refuge.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical twilight scene with delicate lines—exhausted figure drawn toward a soft, idealized feminine form; a cool distant temple doorway suggests Viṣṇu’s refuge; subtle smoke wisps, restrained palette, refined facial expressions conveying faintness and longing.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines—kāma as a flame aura around the torso, the seeker’s pallor and drooping posture, and a distant Viṣṇu emblem panel; strong red/yellow/green pigments, temple-wall aesthetic, expressive eyes showing confusion and craving.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic composition—central flame encircled by lotus motifs; borders filled with tulasi-like foliage patterns (as a hint of bhakti remedy) though not explicit in verse; deep blues and gold, intricate floral work, a small Krishna-Viṣṇu icon at the top center as the true refuge."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["low drum pulse","soft wind","temple bell distant","brief conch in the distance"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: संश्रयेत्प्राणी = संश्रयेत् + प्राणी; कामवह्निना = काम + वह्निना; अन्यत्र स्पष्टपदविभागः।
FAQs
It portrays how uncontrolled desire (kāma) drives a person toward sensual dependence and leads to mental and physical depletion.
“Kāma-vahni” means “the fire of desire,” a metaphor for craving that burns and agitates the mind, pushing one into impulsive action.
The verse cautions against being led by lust and highlights the need for restraint, discernment, and avoiding situations that intensify sensual obsession.