Shloka 32
Narrative of King Pṛthu: Chastising and Milking the Earth
महता कृच्छ्रेण तासामाहारश्च द्विजोत्तमाः । पृथुर्वैन्यः समालोक्य प्रजानां कष्टमेव हि
mahatā kṛcchreṇa tāsāmāhāraśca dvijottamāḥ | pṛthurvainyaḥ samālokya prajānāṃ kaṣṭameva hi
Wahai brāhmaṇa yang utama, rezeki mereka hanya diperoleh dengan kesukaran besar. Melihat penderitaan rakyat, Pṛthu Vainya benar-benar menatap keadaan mereka yang sengsara.
Unspecified narrator (dialogue context not provided in the input excerpt)
Concept: A ruler’s dharma is to perceive the people’s suffering and act to remove it; compassion becomes governance.
Application: Notice distress in one’s dependents (family, team, community) and respond with concrete support rather than indifference.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A drought-stricken kingdom lies under a pale sky: cracked earth, withered fields, and villagers carrying empty baskets. King Pṛthu stands on a raised terrace, gaze heavy with compassion, surrounded by anxious elders and brāhmaṇas, as he resolves to restore abundance.","primary_figures":["King Pṛthu (Pṛthu Vainya)","brāhmaṇas","suffering subjects"],"setting":"royal courtyard overlooking parched farmlands; distant huts and barren furrows","lighting_mood":"dusty overcast with a faint hopeful break in the clouds","color_palette":["ochre earth","ash gray","muted indigo","saffron cloth","bronze highlights"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: King Pṛthu in regal posture on a palace terrace, haloed with subtle gold leaf, richly patterned red-green textiles, gem-studded crown; below, villagers with empty grain baskets and cracked fields; ornate arch framing the scene, gold leaf emphasizing the king’s compassionate gaze and royal insignia.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a lyrical yet somber landscape of dry fields and thin trees, delicate linework on villagers’ faces, Pṛthu in refined attire with restrained ornamentation; cool gray-blue sky with a small opening of light, Himalayan-style rolling hills faintly in the distance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, earthy pigments; Pṛthu with large expressive eyes and stylized crown, attendants and brāhmaṇas in rhythmic composition; parched earth rendered in warm ochres, a symbolic cloud motif above hinting at impending restoration.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: narrative panel with ornate floral borders; the kingdom’s scarcity shown through empty granaries and drooping lotuses; Pṛthu centered as dharmic protector, peacocks subdued in posture; deep indigo border with gold detailing to foreshadow forthcoming abundance."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["dry wind","distant lament","temple bell (soft)","brief silence between pādas"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तासामाहारश्च = तासाम् + आहारः + च; पृथुर्वैन्यः = पृथुः + वैन्यः. 'द्विजोत्तमाः' प्रथमा-बहुवचनरूपं, परन्तु सम्बोधनार्थे (हे द्विजोत्तम) इति प्रयोगः सामान्यः।
FAQs
It describes a time when people could obtain food only with great hardship, and King Pṛthu (Vainya) observes their distress.
A ruler should be attentive to the suffering of the subjects and respond compassionately; noticing public distress is presented as a kingly duty aligned with dharma.
Pṛthu, called Vainya as the son/descendant of Vena, is a paradigmatic righteous king in Purāṇas, often associated with restoring prosperity and order for his people.