Shloka 131
The Establishment of Vāmana at Kānyakubja and the Sanctification of Setu
कार्मुकं गृह्य हस्तेन रामः सेतुं द्विधाच्छिनत् । त्रिर्विभज्य च वेगेन मध्ये वै दशयोजनम्
kārmukaṃ gṛhya hastena rāmaḥ setuṃ dvidhācchinat | trirvibhajya ca vegena madhye vai daśayojanam
Dengan memegang busurnya, Rāma membelah jambatan itu menjadi dua; kemudian dengan pantas membahagikannya kepada tiga bahagian dan membelah di tengah sejauh sepuluh yojana.
Narrator (contextual; explicit speaker not provided in the given excerpt)
Concept: When dharma requires, decisive action must be taken without hesitation, even upon one’s own constructions.
Application: Do not cling to plans or ‘bridges’ you built—if circumstances demand, revise swiftly and responsibly for the higher good.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"On the wind-swept edge of the southern ocean, Rāma stands poised with bow drawn, his gaze unwavering. With a single, lightning-like release, the vast stone-and-wood causeway is cleaved and re-formed into measured segments, waves exploding into white spray as if the sea itself bows to dharma.","primary_figures":["Rāma","Lakṣmaṇa (optional)","Vānara engineers (optional)","Ocean personified (optional)"],"setting":"Southern seashore near the Setu, scattered boulders, churning surf, distant silhouette of Laṅkā on the horizon","lighting_mood":"divine radiance amid storm-bright sea glare","color_palette":["sapphire blue","sea-foam white","storm-cloud gray","bowstring gold","vermillion accents"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Rāma in regal stance on a jeweled shoreline mandapa-like frame, bow raised; the segmented Setu shown as three ornate bands across stylized waves; heavy gold leaf on crown, bow, and halo; rich reds and emerald greens in garments; gem-studded ornaments; South Indian iconographic proportions; embossed gold for ocean spray and divine aura.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: slender, lyrical Rāma with delicate facial features, poised on a pale sandy shore; cool blues and grays for the sea; fine white stippling for spray; distant Laṅkā as a faint hill; vānara figures as small narrative details; refined linework and soft gradients, Himalayan miniature sensibility applied to a coastal scene.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, large expressive eyes for Rāma, flat yet vibrant sea bands; natural pigment palette with dominant blues and greens; stylized waves like temple-wall motifs; strong red/yellow highlights on ornaments; halo rendered as concentric rings; dynamic posture emphasizing heroic energy.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional composition with Rāma centered, surrounded by lotus and wave motifs; the Setu rendered as patterned bands like a sacred pathway; ornate floral borders, peacocks at corners, deep indigo background with gold detailing; emphasis on bhakti-līlā rather than realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["conch shell","crashing waves","temple bells","bowstring twang","wind"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dvidhācchinat → dvidhā acchinat; trirvibhajya → triḥ vibhajya; daśayojanam → daśa-yojanam.
FAQs
It uses “daśa-yojanam” (ten yojanas) as a concrete distance marker, reflecting the Purāṇic habit of describing sacred or epic landscapes with traditional Indian units of measure.
The verse mentions “setu” (a bridge/causeway) and Rāma’s action upon it, which naturally aligns with the Rāma-setu motif; however, the specific identification depends on the surrounding verses of Adhyaya 38.
Symbolically, it portrays decisive, disciplined action—Rāma acts with clarity and speed, suggesting the virtue of resolute execution when a duty or strategic necessity is understood.