Shloka 31
The Origin of the Lauhitya River
and the King of Tīrthas
प्रसोढुं नैव शक्ता सा शंतनुं चाब्रवीत्ततः । गर्भं धारयितुं नाथ न शक्नोम्यधुना प्रभो
prasoḍhuṃ naiva śaktā sā śaṃtanuṃ cābravīttataḥ | garbhaṃ dhārayituṃ nātha na śaknomyadhunā prabho
അത് സഹിക്കാനാകാതെ അവൾ ശന്തനുവിനോട് പറഞ്ഞു—“ഹേ നാഥാ, ഹേ പ്രഭോ, ഇപ്പോൾ ഈ ഗർഭം ധരിക്കാൻ എനിക്ക് കഴിയുന്നില്ല.”
A woman (unnamed in this isolated verse) speaking to King Śaṃtanu
Concept: Dharma must account for embodied limits; righteous action begins with truthful speech about one’s capacity.
Application: Speak honestly when overwhelmed; seek guidance rather than forcing endurance beyond health—dharma includes care for life and body.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a quiet royal chamber, a distressed woman steadies herself, one hand on her abdomen, eyes wet with fear and resolve. Before her stands King Śaṃtanu, listening with grave tenderness as lamplight trembles on carved pillars and silk drapes.","primary_figures":["Unnamed woman","King Śaṃtanu"],"setting":"Royal interior—pillared hall or private chamber with minimal attendants, emphasizing intimacy and crisis","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["warm amber","deep maroon","ivory","smoky brown","muted gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a regal chamber with ornate pillars and archways, Śaṃtanu in royal attire with gold leaf accents, the woman in rich sari with gem-like highlights; expressive faces, heavy gold embellishment on jewelry and borders, sacred gravitas despite domestic scene.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate palace room with delicate textiles, soft pastel maroons and ivories, refined facial expressions showing pleading and concern; minimal background, lyrical linework, gentle shading around the woman’s posture and Śaṃtanu’s attentive stance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: iconic frontal figures with bold outlines, warm red and yellow dominance, stylized palace motifs; the woman’s gesture to her womb emphasized, Śaṃtanu’s calm authoritative posture, flat decorative patterns on garments.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: palace scene framed by ornate floral borders and lotus motifs; figures stylized, deep maroon and gold palette, decorative textiles filling negative space, narrative cartouche-like composition."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["soft ankle-bells","faint palace silence","oil-lamp crackle","distant conch from temple","gentle tanpura drone"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नैव = न + एव; चाब्रवीत् = च + अब्रवीत्; शक्नोम्यधुना = शक्नोमि + अधुना (यण्-सन्धि/स्वर-सन्धि)
FAQs
The speaker addresses Śaṃtanu directly, using honorifics such as “nātha” (lord) and “prabho” (master).
It conveys a personal confession of incapacity: the woman says she cannot endure the situation and is unable to carry the pregnancy at that time.
It highlights honesty in relationship and the recognition of physical limits, expressed respectfully within a dharmic form of address.