Shloka 23
Instruction on All Dharma
in the context of Rāma’s Aśvamedha
रामचंद्र महाभाग सुरासुरनमस्कृत । यज्ञं कुरु महाराज हयमेधं सुविस्तरम्
rāmacaṃdra mahābhāga surāsuranamaskṛta | yajñaṃ kuru mahārāja hayamedhaṃ suvistaram
Wahai Rāmacandra yang berbahagia, yang disembah hormat oleh para dewa dan asura; wahai Maharaja, laksanakanlah yajña Aśvamedha yang agung itu dengan sempurna dan seluas-luas tata caranya.
Unspecified in the provided excerpt (context needed from surrounding verses to identify the speaker reliably).
Concept: A righteous ruler should complete great public rites in full measure—‘suvistaram’—as an offering that stabilizes cosmic and social order.
Application: When duty is clear and beneficial, do it wholeheartedly rather than half-heartedly—complete what is begun with integrity and proper method.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A council of sages and ministers stands before Rāma, who is enthroned yet humble, receiving the solemn exhortation to perform the Aśvamedha in expansive grandeur. Above the assembly, subtle celestial presences—gods and asuras alike—are suggested as reverently attentive, underscoring Rāma’s universal veneration.","primary_figures":["Rāmacandra","counseling sage (unspecified)","court ministers","ṛtvij priests","subtle celestial witnesses"],"setting":"royal court opening into a yajña courtyard, with banners, altar plans, and ritual diagrams displayed","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["royal blue","antique gold","crimson","sandalwood beige","smoky gray"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Rāma enthroned with gold halo, bow resting nearby, sages in a semicircle urging the Aśvamedha; gold leaf on crowns, halos, and altar vessels; rich crimson drapery, green borders, ornate pillars, and gem-like highlights on jewelry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: refined court scene with delicate architecture, soft textiles, and expressive faces; the advising sage leaning forward in respectful exhortation; distant garden and pale sky; cool blues and warm ochres balanced with fine linework.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: frontal, iconic Rāma with stylized eyes; sages and priests arranged symmetrically; ritual paraphernalia simplified into bold shapes; dominant reds/yellows/greens with black outlines, temple-wall composition.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Rāma centered amid lotus borders and floral vines; attendants and sages in rhythmic rows; symbolic celestial motifs (conch, discus, lotuses) woven into the border; deep blue field with gold and white ornamentation, devotional symmetry."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["conch shell","temple bells","court murmurs fading into silence","drum accents","Vedic intonation cues"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सुरासुरनमस्कृत (समास); अन्यत्र विशेष-सन्धि-भङ्गः न.
FAQs
The verse addresses Rāmacandra (Rama), praising him as “mahābhāga” (noble/fortunate) and “surāsura-namaskṛta” (revered by gods and asuras), highlighting his exceptional stature and universal recognition.
The verse recommends performing the Aśvamedha (hayamedha), a major royal Vedic sacrifice traditionally associated with sovereign authority and expansive ritual detail (“suvistaram”).
It emphasizes rājadhrama (the duties of a king) expressed through sanctioned yajña—public, tradition-rooted action meant to uphold order, legitimacy, and religious merit.