Shloka 161
Brahmā’s Puṣkara Sacrifice: Kokāmukha Tīrtha, Varāha’s Aid, and the Arrival of Gāyatrī
का हि नाभिलषेत्कन्या भर्तांरं भक्तिवत्सलम् । नादेयमपि ते किंचित्पितुर्मे धर्मवत्सल
kā hi nābhilaṣetkanyā bhartāṃraṃ bhaktivatsalam | nādeyamapi te kiṃcitpiturme dharmavatsala
Gadis manakah yang tidak mendambakan suami yang penyayang terhadap bhakti? Wahai kekasih, yang teguh pada dharma—tiada sesuatu pun dari ayahandaku yang tidak wajar dikurniakan kepadamu.
Unspecified (context-dependent within Adhyaya 16; likely a female speaker in dialogue)
Concept: A worthy spouse is characterized by bhakti and dharma; rightful giving (dāna) follows dharmic authority and propriety.
Application: Choose relationships and commitments based on shared devotion and ethical steadiness; honor legitimate guardianship/consent processes rather than impulsive desire.
Primary Rasa: shringara
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A large-eyed maiden speaks with composed resolve, her hands folded in respectful humility, while a suitor listens amid a palace courtyard. The air carries a tension between tender longing and firm adherence to dharma, with attendants watching quietly from behind carved pillars.","primary_figures":["a noble maiden (unnamed)","a suitor/recipient (unnamed)","attendants/companions"],"setting":"royal or celestial court-like courtyard with lotus-carved pillars, silk canopies, and a distant glimpse of a sacrificial hall suggesting dharmic authority","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["lotus pink","sandalwood beige","emerald green","antique gold","indigo"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a large-eyed maiden in rich silk stands with añjali-mudrā, speaking of bhakti and dharma to a poised suitor; ornate palace pillars and lotus motifs; gold leaf halos and borders, gem-studded jewelry, deep reds and greens, traditional South Indian iconographic symmetry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate maiden with refined features and expressive eyes converses with a suitor in a quiet courtyard; lyrical naturalism, soft gradients, cool shadows, detailed textiles; distant garden with flowering vines and a small shrine hinting at dharma.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and stylized eyes; the maiden in graceful stance with folded hands, the suitor attentive; temple-court backdrop with lotus and creeper patterns; natural pigment palette dominated by red, yellow, green, and warm ochres.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional court scene framed by intricate floral borders and lotus motifs; subtle Vishnu-bhakti symbolism (tulasi garland motif in border), deep blues and gold accents; attendants and peacocks in margins, Nathdwara-inspired ornamentation."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft ankle-bells","temple bells (distant)","courtyard birds","gentle silence between lines"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नाभिलषेत्कन्या = न + अभिलषेत् + कन्या; नादेयमपि = न + आदेयम् + अपि; किंचित्पितुर्मे = किंचित् + पितुः + मे. पाठे ‘भर्तांरं’ इति दृश्यते, अर्थतः ‘भर्तारम्’ (द्वितीया) ग्राह्यम्.
FAQs
It praises a husband who is “bhakti-vatsala,” affectionate toward devotion, presenting devotion and moral character as central marital virtues.
By implying that a truly desirable spouse is one who cherishes bhakti, the verse elevates devotion as a defining quality of excellence and trustworthiness.
It underscores generosity guided by dharma: a righteous household is portrayed as one where rightful requests—especially aligned with duty and virtue—are not withheld.