Shloka 38
The Episode of Cyavana
Cyavana’s Hermitage and the Power of Tapas
तेनोक्तं मा व्रजाशु त्वं भस्मी भव सुदुर्मते । न हि साध्वी परामर्शं कृत्वा श्रेयोऽधियास्यसि
tenoktaṃ mā vrajāśu tvaṃ bhasmī bhava sudurmate | na hi sādhvī parāmarśaṃ kṛtvā śreyo'dhiyāsyasi
അവൻ അവളോടു പറഞ്ഞു—“ദുഷ്ടബുദ്ധിയേ, ഉടൻ പോകരുത്; നിൽക്കുക. ഭസ്മമായിപ്പോ; കാരണം സാധ്വിയായ സ്ത്രീ ഇത്തരമൊരു അനുചിത പ്രവർത്തി ചെയ്താൽ യഥാർത്ഥ ശ്രേയസ് നേടുകയില്ല.”
Unspecified male speaker (context-dependent within Pātālakhaṇḍa 5.14)
Concept: Transgressive conduct (parāmarśa—improper contact/approach) obstructs śreyas (true welfare); dharma is guarded by swift retribution.
Application: Guard boundaries in relationships; avoid actions that compromise integrity, because short-term impulses can destroy long-term spiritual and social welfare.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A stern ascetic or righteous authority raises a commanding hand, his eyes blazing with dharmic fury, as a trembling figure recoils. In the air, the curse takes visible form—embers and ash spirals—suggesting instant karmic judgment rather than ordinary fire.","primary_figures":["righteous sage/authority figure (unnamed)","accused woman (unnamed)","subtle presence of Agni as curse-flame motif"],"setting":"Forest-edge hermitage threshold with kusa grass, sacrificial implements, and a faintly glowing fire-pit; the boundary line between āśrama purity and worldly transgression is emphasized.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["smoldering ember orange","ash gray","saffron ochre","deep forest green","charcoal black"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a fierce dharmic sage at an āśrama doorway pronouncing a curse, gold leaf halo around the sage, stylized flames and ash motifs rising from a yajña-kuṇḍa, rich vermilion and emerald textiles, gem-studded ornaments on ritual vessels, traditional South Indian iconographic symmetry and ornate borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a hermitage scene with delicate brushwork, the sage’s stern gesture and the accused figure’s fearful posture, ash swirling like pale mist, cool greens and muted browns, refined facial expressions, distant Himalayan foothills and a small sacred fire rendered with lyrical naturalism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, intense eyes of the sage, flat yet vibrant fields of red/yellow/green, a glowing fire-pit with stylized ash curls, temple-wall aesthetic with decorative floral bands framing the moral drama.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic moral tableau at a sacred threshold, ornate floral borders and lotus motifs, stylized ash-cloud patterns, deep indigo background with gold highlights; include subtle Viṣṇu-emblems (śaṅkha-cakra) in the border to hint dharma’s divine backing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["sharp hand cymbal accent","sudden silence","crackling fire","distant jackal call"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tenoktaṃ = tena + uktam; vrajāśu = vraja + āśu; śreyo'dhiyāsyasi = śreyaḥ + adhiyāsyasi.
FAQs
It asserts that immoral or improper conduct (parāmarśa) is incompatible with attaining śreyas—true spiritual or moral welfare—especially in the ideal of sādhvī (virtuous, chaste integrity).
It functions as a curse-like reprimand, underscoring the seriousness of the offense and the speaker’s insistence that wrongdoing has severe consequences.
In this context it indicates improper touching/association or an indecent act—behavior viewed as violating dharma and the standards of virtuous conduct.