Shloka 35
Yayāti’s Summons to Heaven and the Teaching on Old Age, the Five-Element Body, and Self–Body Discernment
इत्येवं चिंतयामास तस्माद्भीतः सुरेश्वरः । भूपालस्य नृपश्रेष्ठ ययातेः सुमहद्भयात्
ityevaṃ ciṃtayāmāsa tasmādbhītaḥ sureśvaraḥ | bhūpālasya nṛpaśreṣṭha yayāteḥ sumahadbhayāt
Demikianlah baginda berfikir; lalu penguasa para dewa menjadi gentar—wahai raja yang utama—kerana ketakutan besar yang timbul akibat Raja Yayāti.
Narrator (within the Purāṇic dialogue frame; exact speaker not identifiable from this single verse alone)
Concept: Even the lord of gods is subject to fear; power and position within saṃsāra are unstable, urging the seeker toward the fearless refuge beyond—ultimately Vishnu.
Application: Notice how status breeds anxiety; cultivate inner refuge through devotion, ethics, and detachment rather than control.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Indra, usually triumphant, is shown unsettled—eyes widened, vajra lowered—while shadowy omens ripple through the jeweled hall. In the distance, a vision-like silhouette of King Yayāti radiates formidable merit, making the celestial court feel suddenly small and vulnerable.","primary_figures":["Indra (Sura-īśvara)","celestial attendants","visionary presence of King Yayāti"],"setting":"Indra’s sabhā with trembling banners, dimmed gemstones, and a looming cloud-shadow at the threshold","lighting_mood":"moonlit","color_palette":["storm gray","indigo blue","cold silver","faint gold","crimson accent"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Indra on a lotus throne with gold leaf but with a disturbed expression; the court’s brilliance partially veiled by dark cloud motifs; a radiant yet distant Yayāti-figure in a circular aura; rich ornamentation, dramatic contrast between gold and storm hues, expressive posture and symbolic omens.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: subtle psychological drama—Indra’s anxious gaze, attendants whispering; cool nocturnal palette, delicate cloud washes, a faint luminous apparition of Yayāti beyond an archway; refined linework emphasizing mood over spectacle.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, Indra’s face rendered with heightened expression; dark cloud bands and serpent-like shadow motifs at the borders; limited palette with strong indigo and red accents, rhythmic decorative tension.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: a night-sky Svarga with stylized clouds and lotus borders; Indra centered but slightly off-balance, while a glowing medallion shows Yayāti’s formidable aura; deep blues with gold highlights, intricate border patterns amplifying unease."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["distant thunder","low drone (tanpura)","sudden silence","wind gusts through pillars"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्येवम् = इति + एवम्; तस्माद्भीतः = तस्मात् + भीतः (द्-आदेशः); सुमहद्भयात् = सुमहत् + भयात् (द्-सन्धिः).
FAQs
Sureśvara means “lord of the gods,” a common epithet for Indra, the king of the devas.
It highlights that Indra, despite his divine status, became fearful due to the formidable power or threat associated with King Yayāti.
The verse suggests that power and status do not guarantee freedom from fear; even exalted beings can be shaken when confronted with overwhelming force or consequence.