Shloka 47
The Origin of the Daṇḍaka Forest and Rāma’s Dharma-Judgment
Vulture vs. Owl
यन्नाशं दुर्गतिं प्राप्तस्सानुगश्च न संशयः । यस्तु दीप्तहुताशस्य अर्चिः संस्पृष्टवानिह
yannāśaṃ durgatiṃ prāptassānugaśca na saṃśayaḥ | yastu dīptahutāśasya arciḥ saṃspṛṣṭavāniha
Dia pasti menemui kebinasaan dan kesudahan yang buruk bersama para pengikutnya—tiada syak. Namun sesiapa yang di sini tersentuh oleh nyala api yang marak, tidak menempuh nasib itu.
Unspecified (context-dependent within Adhyaya 37 narration)
Concept: Adharma leads to ruin for oneself and one’s dependents; contact with sanctified fire signifies purification and exemption from the threatened fate.
Application: Avoid actions that drag others into harm; seek purification through sincere atonement and sacred disciplines rather than denial—‘touching the flame’ as a metaphor for accepting corrective tapas.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A blazing sacrificial fire rises like a living pillar, its tongues of flame forming a protective aureole. On one side, shadowy figures—an arrogant ruler and his retinue—stagger toward a dark precipice; on the other, a penitent figure is lightly touched by the fire’s radiant edge, turning from doom toward clarity.","primary_figures":["Agni (as sacred fire)","a wicked king (symbolic)","a penitent devotee/subject","attendants/followers (anugāḥ)"],"setting":"Ritual ground with a square fire-altar (vedi), scattered kusa grass, ladles and ghee vessels; distant horizon split between storm-darkness and clear sky.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["ember orange","smoke gray","saffron gold","midnight indigo","ash white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central Agni as a jeweled, flame-bodied presence above a gold-leaf fire-altar; ornate arch (prabhāmaṇḍala) with gem-studded borders; the penitent figure in humble posture receiving a thin ribbon of flame-touch; the wicked king and followers rendered in darker tones at the edge, with rich reds, greens, and heavy gold highlights on ritual vessels.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate, lyrical yajña scene in a quiet clearing; slender flames painted with fine brushwork; the penitent’s face calm and uplifted; the king’s party in muted, cool shadows; soft Himalayan-like sky gradient, refined features, minimal ornament, emphasis on moral contrast.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and stylized flame patterns; Agni as a radiant icon with large expressive eyes within the fire; the king and followers shown with exaggerated stern expressions; temple-wall palette of red, yellow, green, and ochre; ritual implements simplified into iconic forms.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: a devotional fire-altar framed by lotus and floral borders; peacocks at the corners; the flame forming a mandala-like halo; figures arranged symmetrically; deep blues and gold with intricate textile-like detailing, suggesting purification and protection."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["crackling fire","low temple bell","conch shell (distant)","wind hush","brief silence after the warning"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यन्नाशम् = यत् + नाशम्; प्राप्तस्सानुगश्च = प्राप्तः + स + अनुगः + च; यस्तु = यः + तु; दीप्तहुताशस्य = दीप्त-हुताशस्य (कर्मधारय); संस्पृष्टवानिह = संस्पृष्टवान् + इह
FAQs
It contrasts the assured downfall (nāśa, durgati) that follows wrongdoing—affecting even one’s associates—with the protective/purificatory implication of being touched by sacred fire (Agni) in the given context.
It underscores the social ripple-effect of adharma: a leader’s harmful actions can implicate or endanger dependents, companions, or those who participate in the same misconduct.
In Purāṇic idiom it can indicate ritual contact with sacred fire (Agni) as a purifier/witness, implying exemption from the stated doom—though the precise application depends on the surrounding passage of Adhyaya 37.