Shloka 39
The Account of Sukalā: Chastity Overcomes Kāma and an Indra-like Trial
भर्त्रा विना निरीक्षेत मम रूपं यदा भवान् । यथा दारु दहेदग्निस्तथा धक्ष्यामि नान्यथा
bhartrā vinā nirīkṣeta mama rūpaṃ yadā bhavān | yathā dāru dahedagnistathā dhakṣyāmi nānyathā
Se contemplares minha forma quando meu esposo não estiver presente, então—assim como o fogo queima a lenha—eu te queimarei; não será de outro modo.
Unspecified female speaker (a chaste wife addressing a man)
Concept: Pativratā-dharma is portrayed as a spiritual power (tejas) that protects bodily autonomy and household sanctity; illicit gaze becomes adharma with immediate karmic consequence.
Application: Honor consent and boundaries; cultivate fidelity and integrity so that one’s presence becomes protective rather than predatory; treat others’ relationships as sacred limits.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A resolute pativratā stands at the threshold of her home, her gaze steady and uncompromising. A subtle halo of fiery tejas rises around her like controlled flame, while an overconfident onlooker recoils as the air itself seems to scorch, evoking the simile of fire consuming wood without mercy.","primary_figures":["Sukalā (pativratā)","a transgressive male onlooker (unnamed)","Agni as symbolic presence (subtle, not anthropomorphic)"],"setting":"Domestic threshold with carved wooden doorframe, courtyard tulasi-vṛndā (optional as symbolic purity), and a protective liminal line (lakṣmaṇa-rekhā-like boundary) suggested through rangoli patterns.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["smoldering vermilion","charcoal black","sandalwood beige","antique gold","deep maroon"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Sukalā at the ornate household threshold, rigidly upright with serene yet fierce eyes, a gold-leaf aura shaped like controlled flames behind her; rich red-green textiles, gem-studded jewelry kept modest, carved wooden doorway rendered with embossed gold; the transgressive figure shown stepping back, hands raised, with stylized flame motifs licking the air; heavy gold borders and traditional South Indian iconographic symmetry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a lyrical courtyard scene with delicate linework; Sukalā stands near a painted doorway, her posture calm but unyielding; a translucent saffron glow surrounds her, while the man recoils; cool architectural washes, fine facial features, and a quiet moral tension expressed through minimal gestures and negative space.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and natural pigments; Sukalā’s large expressive eyes convey dharmic authority; flame-like tejas rendered as rhythmic red-yellow curves; the doorway and courtyard simplified into temple-wall geometry; restrained ornamentation, strong compositional frontality.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: domestic courtyard framed by intricate floral borders and lotus motifs; Sukalā centered with a stylized aureole, flame patterns integrated into decorative vines; deep indigo background with gold highlights; narrative figures small and symbolic, emphasizing purity and boundary as sacred design."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["temple bells","low drum pulse","crackling fire (subtle)","brief silence after the warning"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दहेदग्निः → दहेत् + अग्निः (त् + अ → द); नान्यथा → न + अन्यथा (अ + अ → आ).
FAQs
It warns against gazing upon a married woman in her husband’s absence, emphasizing restraint, respect, and the safeguarding of marital boundaries.
The metaphor conveys inevitability and immediacy: just as fire naturally consumes wood, the stated consequence is presented as certain and uncompromising.
Yes. In the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa, many passages stress social and personal dharma—proper conduct, protection of family order, and avoidance of actions that lead to adharma.