Shloka 47
The Birth of Tāraka and the Prelude to the Deva–Asura War
Topic-based Title
पुत्रं मे तारकं देहि तुष्टो मे त्वं पितामह । ब्रह्मोवाच । अलं ते तपसा वीर मा क्लेशे दुस्तरे विश
putraṃ me tārakaṃ dehi tuṣṭo me tvaṃ pitāmaha | brahmovāca | alaṃ te tapasā vīra mā kleśe dustare viśa
“Kurniakanlah kepadaku seorang putera bernama Tāraka; wahai Pitāmaha Brahmā, Engkau telah berkenan kepadaku.” Brahmā bersabda: “Cukuplah tapamu, wahai wira; janganlah engkau masuk ke dalam kesusahan yang sukar ditanggung.”
Brahmā (in the second half; the first half is a petitioner addressing Brahmā as Pitāmaha)
Concept: Austerity bears fruit, yet the boon-giver cautions against self-torment; dharma includes restraint even in spiritual striving.
Application: Pursue goals with discipline, but heed wise counsel: stop when the purpose is achieved; avoid pride and self-harm in the name of ‘spiritual effort’.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a luminous celestial hall, the petitioner—still marked by the austerity’s strain—stands with folded hands before Brahmā, asking for a son named Tāraka. Brahmā, four-faced and calm, raises a blessing hand, his expression both granting and cautioning: ‘Enough—do not plunge into unbearable hardship.’","primary_figures":["Brahmā (Pitāmaha)","Petitioner (Daitya lord / boon-seeker)"],"setting":"Brahmā’s lotus-throne court with floating lotuses, swan motifs, Vedic manuscripts, and a vast sky-like dome; attendants as subtle silhouettes.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["gold leaf","creamy lotus white","vermillion red","turquoise blue","smoky violet"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Brahmā seated on a grand lotus throne with gold leaf aura and gem-studded crown; the boon-seeker kneels with folded hands, ascetic marks and slightly emaciated form; ornate pillars, swan emblems, rich reds and greens, heavy jewelry detailing, traditional iconography with embossed gold highlights.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: airy celestial pavilion with delicate linework; Brahmā’s four faces rendered with refined serenity; the petitioner’s humble posture and tapas-worn body; soft turquoise and cream washes, lyrical clouds, subtle floral borders.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Brahmā with bold outlines, symmetrical four-faced depiction, lotus seat; the petitioner in respectful añjali; saturated reds/yellows/greens, temple-wall composition, stylized eyes and patterned textiles.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: lotus-filled celestial backdrop, ornate floral borders; Brahmā central on lotus with swan motifs; the petitioner at the lower edge in devotion; deep blues and gold, intricate repetitive patterns and sacred geometry."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["conch shell (soft)","celestial chimes","low drone (tanpura)","brief hush on ‘alaṃ te tapasā’"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ब्रह्मोवाच = ब्रह्मा + उवाच.
FAQs
‘Pitāmaha’ (“Grandfather”) is a common epithet for Brahmā, regarded as the progenitor of beings; here the petitioner addresses Brahmā with that title.
Brahmā acknowledges the efficacy of tapas but cautions against excessive, unbearable hardship—suggesting that spiritual effort should not become self-destructive.
The verse highlights restraint and discernment: even when pursuing a goal through intense discipline, one should avoid extremes that lead to needless suffering.