Shloka 1
Yayāti’s Proclamation of Hari-Worship and the Ideal Vaiṣṇava Society
in the Mata–Pitri Tirtha Cycle
सुकर्मोवाच । दूतास्तु ग्रामेषु वदंति सर्वे द्वीपेषु देशेष्वथ पत्तनेषु । लोकाः शृणुध्वं नृपतेस्तदाज्ञां सर्वप्रभावैर्हरिमर्चयंतु
sukarmovāca | dūtāstu grāmeṣu vadaṃti sarve dvīpeṣu deśeṣvatha pattaneṣu | lokāḥ śṛṇudhvaṃ nṛpatestadājñāṃ sarvaprabhāvairharimarcayaṃtu
സുകർമ്മൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ദൂതന്മാർ ഗ്രാമങ്ങളിലും ദ്വീപുകളിലും എല്ലാ ദേശങ്ങളിലും പട്ടണങ്ങളിലും ഇപ്രകാരം പ്രഖ്യാപിക്കട്ടെ—“ജനങ്ങളേ, രാജാവിന്റെ ആജ്ഞ കേൾക്കുവിൻ; നിങ്ങളുടെ സർവ്വശക്തിയും വിഭവങ്ങളുംകൊണ്ട് ഹരിയെ ആരാധിക്കുവിൻ।”
Sukarma
Concept: Public dharma: all people should worship Hari according to their capacity (sarva-prabhāvaiḥ), making devotion inclusive rather than elitist.
Application: Offer resources responsibly—time, skill, wealth, attention—without comparison; support community worship (temple service, charity, kīrtana) in proportion to one’s means.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: city
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Royal messengers ride out from a palace gate carrying banners marked with the conch and discus, stopping at crossroads where villagers gather to listen. In every direction—coastal ports, island settlements, and bustling cities—people begin offering lamps, flowers, and service at Hari’s shrine, each according to their means.","primary_figures":["Sukarma","royal messengers (dūtas)","townspeople","Hari (as temple deity/arcā-mūrti)"],"setting":"A vibrant civic panorama: palace courtyard leading into market streets, harbor town, and village lanes; a central temple with a tall dhvaja-stambha and garlanded doorway.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["royal crimson","conch white","bronze gold","turquoise sea-blue","leafy green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Sukarma in royal attire issuing orders, messengers with conch-and-discus banners, a richly ornamented Hari shrine with gold-leaf arch and haloed deity, crowds offering lamps and flowers, gem-studded ornaments, saturated reds/greens, embossed gold detailing and temple iconography.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a lyrical procession of messengers through hill-town streets and village paths, delicate architecture and trees, people gathering in small groups, a modest Hari temple with fluttering flag, cool palette with refined faces and gentle narrative movement across the frame.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Sukarma and dūtas in stylized poses, bold outlines, rhythmic crowd arrangement, prominent temple doorway with lamp stands, red/yellow/green pigments, ceremonial symmetry and strong iconographic clarity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central Hari/Viṣṇu shrine framed by lotus borders, rows of devotees bringing offerings, messengers depicted as small narrative vignettes around the border, peacocks and floral vines, deep blue background with gold highlights, intricate textile ornamentation and devotional festivity."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["drum beats (dhol)","conch shell","market ambience","temple bells"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सुकर्मोवाच → सुकर्मा उवाच; देशेष्वथ → देशेषु अथ; नृपतेस्तदाज्ञां → नृपतेः तत् आज्ञाम्; सर्वप्रभावैर्हरिमर्चयंतु → सर्वप्रभावैः हरिम् अर्चयन्तु
FAQs
It portrays worship as a public, kingdom-wide practice promoted through official messengers, extending across villages, regions, islands, and cities—suggesting organized dissemination of devotion.
By commanding people to “worship Hari” and framing devotion as the central duty, it highlights bhakti to Viṣṇu (Hari) as the primary religious act.
The verse presents leadership as responsible for encouraging dharmic conduct in society, using governance and communication to guide people toward virtuous, devotional practice.