Shloka 72
The Glory of Guru-Tīrtha: The Guru as Supreme Pilgrimage
Prelude: Cyavana and the Parable Cycle
प्लक्षद्वीपस्य राजानः समाहूता महात्मना । स्वयंवरार्थमाहूतास्तथा ते धर्मतत्पराः
plakṣadvīpasya rājānaḥ samāhūtā mahātmanā | svayaṃvarārthamāhūtāstathā te dharmatatparāḥ
പ്ലക്ഷദ്വീപിലെ രാജാക്കന്മാർ ആ മഹാത്മാവാൽ സമാഹ്വാനിക്കപ്പെട്ടു. സ്വയംവരാർത്ഥമായി അവർ ക്ഷണിക്കപ്പെട്ടതുപോലെ, അവർയും ധർമ്മപരായണരായിരുന്നു.
Unspecified in the provided excerpt (context-dependent within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa 85)
Concept: Even dharma-oriented assemblies can become arenas where desire is tested; social rites (svayaṃvara) require inner restraint to remain dharmic.
Application: Approach public honors/competitions with humility; keep vows and ethics intact when status and attraction are involved.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vast island-court of Plakṣadvīpa opens like a mandala: a dharma-assembly of crowned kings arriving in orderly ranks, summoned for a svayaṃvara. In the center, a raised pavilion with lotus-carved pillars hints at destiny—garlands sway, conches sound, and the air is thick with restrained ambition.","primary_figures":["kings of Plakṣadvīpa","the great-souled summoner (mahātmā)","attendants and heralds"],"setting":"royal svayaṃvara pavilion on a mythic dvīpa, with concentric terraces, banners, and ritual fire altars at the edges","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["burnished gold","lotus pink","emerald green","ivory white","sapphire blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a grand svayaṃvara sabhā on Plakṣadvīpa, rows of jeweled kings with tall crowns and silk angavastras, central lotus-pillared pavilion, conch-bearing heralds, ornate arches; heavy gold leaf embellishment on crowns, pillars, and jewelry, rich reds and greens, gem-studded ornaments, traditional South Indian court iconography, symmetrical composition with decorative borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical svayaṃvara scene with delicate brushwork—kings arriving in procession, soft facial features, patterned textiles, a lotus pavilion amid stylized trees and distant hills; cool yet festive palette, fine linework, airy negative space, subtle expressions of anticipation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and flat natural pigments—royal assembly with rhythmic repetition of crowned figures, central pavilion with lotus motifs, ritual attendants with conch and lamp; characteristic large eyes, red/yellow/green dominance, temple-wall aesthetic with ornamental bands.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ceremonial court rendered with lotus borders and floral arabesques, deep blue ground with gold highlights; central pavilion framed by peacocks and stylized lotuses, rows of kings as decorative rhythm, intricate textile patterns and ornate margins in Nathdwara-inspired detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["conch shell","temple bells","murmur of assembly","silk banners fluttering","distant drums"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्वयंवरार्थमाहूताः = स्वयंवरार्थम् + आहूताः; (म् + आ) संधिः।
FAQs
Plakṣadvīpa is one of the dvīpas (cosmographical continents/islands) described in Purāṇic geography, used to map sacred and royal lineages within a larger mythic-cosmological framework.
Svayaṃvara is a formal ceremony in which a bride chooses her husband from among assembled eligible kings or suitors; the verse states the rulers were invited specifically for this event.
It highlights that even in political and marital alliances, the ideal participants are those who are dharma-tatpara—committed to righteousness and proper conduct.