Shloka 35
The Vena Episode: Sunīthā’s Māyā, Aṅga’s Enchantment, and the Birth of Vena
रंभोवाच । विप्रेंद्र त्वं शृणुष्वेह प्रतिज्ञां वच्मि सांप्रतम् । एषा नैव त्वया त्याज्या धर्मपत्नी तवैव हि
raṃbhovāca | vipreṃdra tvaṃ śṛṇuṣveha pratijñāṃ vacmi sāṃpratam | eṣā naiva tvayā tyājyā dharmapatnī tavaiva hi
Rambhā disse: «Ó melhor dos brāhmaṇas, escuta aqui. Declaro agora um voto solene: jamais deves abandoná-la, pois ela é verdadeiramente tua dharmapatnī, tua esposa legítima segundo o dharma.»
Rambhā
Concept: A dharma-patnī is not to be abandoned; marriage is upheld as a vow-bound sacrament demanding steadfastness.
Application: Treat commitments as sacred: protect those under your care, avoid impulsive abandonment, and let vows be guided by dharma rather than convenience.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Rambhā stands poised and radiant, raising her hand in a solemn declaration, her words forming a protective circle around the bride’s status as dharma-patnī. The brāhmaṇa groom listens with gravity as witnesses and ritual objects affirm that this is not mere romance but sacred law.","primary_figures":["Rambhā (apsarā)","brāhmaṇa groom (viprendra)","lawful wife (dharma-patnī)","witnessing elders"],"setting":"A refined celestial-meets-earthly pavilion: silk canopies, garlands, a small ritual fire, and a threshold marked with auspicious rice designs; subtle apsarā elegance blended with dharma-ritual sobriety.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["lotus pink","pearl white","sapphire blue","soft gold","vermillion"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Rambhā in front-facing grace with gold leaf aura, right hand lifted in vow, the groom seated respectfully, the wife beside him with modest posture, ornate jewelry with gem highlights, rich reds/greens, temple-like pillars, gold-embossed borders emphasizing solemn dharma.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: Rambhā rendered with delicate features and flowing garments, a quiet courtly pavilion, cool blues and pinks, fine floral patterns, the groom’s attentive gaze, understated emotion—steadfastness rather than drama—set against a pale, lyrical background.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized Rambhā with bold outlines and large eyes, saturated pigments, symmetrical composition, ritual fire and auspicious motifs, strong reds/yellows/greens, vow-gesture emphasized with iconic clarity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ceremonial vow scene framed by lotus creepers and floral borders, deep blue ground with gold detailing, stylized figures, emphasis on auspiciousness and sanctity; include subtle conch and lamp motifs to suggest Vaiṣṇava dharma ambiance."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft tanpura drone","temple lamp crackle","gentle ankle-bells (subtle)","brief silence after the vow"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रंभोवाच = रंभा + उवाच; विप्रेंद्र = विप्र-इन्द्र; शृणुष्वेह = शृणुष्व + इह; नैव = न + एव; रूपेणापि (पूर्वश्लोके) इव अत्र संधि-प्रकारः.
FAQs
The speaker is Rambhā, and she addresses a “viprendra,” meaning an eminent or exemplary brāhmaṇa.
It emphasizes fidelity to dharma within marriage: a lawful wife (dharmapatnī) is not to be abandoned, underscoring responsibility, commitment, and moral duty.
By framing the instruction as a “pratijñā” (solemn vow) and grounding it in the status of “dharmapatnī,” the verse highlights dharma as binding through vows and relational duties, a recurring theme across the Purāṇic discourse.