Shloka 15
The Account of King Yayāti: Kāmasaras, Rati’s Tears, and the Birth of Aśrubindumatī
within the Mātā–Pitṛ Tīrtha Narrative
वीक्षमाणो महाराज ददर्श सर उत्तमम् । पुण्योदकेन संपूर्णं विस्तीर्णं पंचयोजनम्
vīkṣamāṇo mahārāja dadarśa sara uttamam | puṇyodakena saṃpūrṇaṃ vistīrṇaṃ paṃcayojanam
असे पाहता पाहता, हे महाराज, त्याने एक उत्तम सरोवर पाहिले—पुण्यजलाने परिपूर्ण आणि पाच योजन विस्तारलेले।
Unspecified narrator (contextual purāṇic narrator addressing a king)
Concept: Approaching sacred waters with reverence transforms perception: the pilgrim ‘sees’ (dadarśa) not mere water but puṇya—an embodied field of purification.
Application: Treat cleansing (bath, river visit, even mindful washing) as a brief ritual: set intention, remember the divine, and let the act symbolize inner renewal.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king pauses at the forest’s opening and suddenly beholds a colossal lake stretching to the horizon, its surface calm yet luminous with sanctity. The water looks ‘consecrated’—as if infused with mantra—while distant lotus fields and faint shrine silhouettes suggest a hidden sacred center.","primary_figures":["pilgrim-king (mahārāja)","lake-deity presence (subtle, optional)"],"setting":"Vast tīrtha-lake bordered by flowering trees; distant ghāṭa steps and a small shrine pavilion; wide sky reflected in still water.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["lapis-lazuli blue","silver-white shimmer","lotus pink","saffron-gold","forest emerald"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: panoramic sacred lake of immense breadth with a royal pilgrim at the near bank, ghāṭa steps and a small shrine in the distance; gold-leaf used to make the water shimmer and outline the horizon, rich jewel tones, ornate border with lotus motifs and temple architecture cues.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: wide tranquil lake with delicate ripples, a lone king in contemplation at the bank, distant tiny shrine and trees; cool blues and soft gold sky, refined minimalism, lyrical atmosphere emphasizing vastness and serenity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized expansive water plane with rhythmic wave patterns, bold outlines for ghāṭa and trees; the king in profile with añjali, warm yellow sky and green borders, temple-wall symmetry and decorative bands.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: large central lake rendered as deep blue field with gold highlights, lotus clusters around edges, ornate floral borders; include small shrine and processional path, peacocks at the margin, devotional stillness."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["gentle lapping water","conch shell (distant)","temple bells","wind over open water","brief silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पुण्योदकेन = पुण्य + उदकेन (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष ‘holy water’); पंचयोजनम् = पञ्च + योजनम् (द्विगु).
FAQs
It portrays a tīrtha as a tangible, expansive landscape feature—an “excellent lake” described by its sacred waters and large extent (five yojanas), emphasizing that pilgrimage sites are both physical places and spiritually charged spaces.
By highlighting “puṇyodaka” (sacred water), the verse supports devotional practice through tīrtha-darśana and reverent engagement with holy places—common pillars of bhakti culture such as pilgrimage, remembrance, and acts of devotion associated with sacred waters.
The verse implicitly commends attentiveness and reverence: the seeker “looks about” and recognizes sanctity. Ethically, it encourages cultivating discernment (seeing the sacred) and approaching holy environments with respect and purity of intention.