Shloka 25
कुचावृतेंगे पुरुषो नारी बुद्ध्वा प्रवर्त्तते । का नारी वा पुमान्को वा विचारे सति किंचन
kucāvṛteṃge puruṣo nārī buddhvā pravarttate | kā nārī vā pumānko vā vicāre sati kiṃcana
Apabila seorang lelaki melihat tubuh yang dadanya tertutup, dia melangkah dengan sangkaan, “Ini wanita.” Namun pada penyelidikan yang benar, siapakah wanita dan siapakah lelaki—adakah sesuatu yang pasti?
Unspecified (contextual narrator/teacher voice within the Svarga-khaṇḍa dialogue)
Concept: Gender and bodily markers are conventional superimpositions; on inquiry, fixed identity is not graspable—therefore cultivate discrimination from mere appearance.
Application: Practice mindful perception: when attraction/aversion arises from external cues, pause and examine the assumption; redirect attention to character, dharma, and remembrance of Nārāyaṇa.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A contemplative sage sits beside a lotus-filled celestial lake, holding a palm-leaf manuscript. In the foreground, two human figures are rendered as semi-transparent layers—outer garments and bodily contours dissolving into a luminous inner silhouette—signifying the collapse of fixed gender notions under inquiry.","primary_figures":["a contemplative ṛṣi/ācārya figure","symbolic human pair (gender as appearance)","Vishnu’s lotus motif as background emblem"],"setting":"Celestial grove near a calm lake with lotuses, a small hermitage pavilion, and distant mandara-like trees; subtle svarga ambience without explicit courtly opulence.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["lotus pink","sapphire blue","soft sandalwood beige","pearl white","antique gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a serene ṛṣi seated on a lotus pedestal by a lotus lake, holding palm-leaf scripture; two translucent figures in the foreground with dissolving outlines to show ‘appearance vs inquiry’; heavy gold leaf haloing the sage, rich maroon and emerald borders, gem-studded ornaments on symbolic lotus motifs, traditional South Indian iconographic symmetry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a quiet lakeside hermitage with delicate lotuses and fine reeds; a sage in simple ochre cloth gestures toward two softly painted figures whose garments and contours fade into pale wash, suggesting impermanence; cool blues and pinks, refined faces, lyrical naturalism, distant hills like svarga’s gentle horizon.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and flat natural pigments; central sage with large expressive eyes, lotus lake behind; foreground figures shown in layered bands—outer body in warm tones, inner silhouette in pale white—conveying viveka; red-yellow-green palette with temple-wall aesthetic.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: expansive lotus pond with ornate floral borders; central meditative sage under a flowering tree; symbolic lotus from Viṣṇu’s navel motif in the sky; foreground figures stylized with patterned textiles that dissolve into floral motifs, deep indigo background with gold detailing and intricate lotuses."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","stillness","gentle breeze through leaves","distant conch shell"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुचावृतेंगे = कुच-आवृते अङ्गे; पुमान्को = पुमान् कः; सति किंचन = सति (सति-सप्तमी) + किंचन।
FAQs
It highlights how social identification (woman/man) is often based on external markers, and urges deeper inquiry (vicāra) into what is truly definite or essential.
It questions the ultimate definiteness of such labels when subjected to philosophical inquiry, emphasizing the unreliability of surface appearances rather than making a biological claim.
It supports viveka (discernment) and vairāgya (detachment) by showing how desire and behavior can be driven by mistaken perception and unexamined assumptions.