Shloka 23
Account of the Ripening of Karma
Childlessness, Offspring, and Remedial Dharma
व्यासं सकलशास्त्रज्ञं सर्वलोकहितैषिणम् । आगतं चैव पप्रच्छ चापुत्रोऽहं कथं द्विज
vyāsaṃ sakalaśāstrajñaṃ sarvalokahitaiṣiṇam | āgataṃ caiva papraccha cāputro'haṃ kathaṃ dvija
Quando chegou Vyāsa—conhecedor de todos os śāstras e benfeitor de todos os seres—o rei lhe perguntou: «Ó brāhmaṇa, como é que estou sem filho?»
An unnamed king/ruler addressing Vyāsa (narrative voice reports the question).
Concept: When afflicted, approach a realized teacher (śāstra-jña, loka-hita) with honest inquiry; right counsel is the gateway to remedy.
Application: In personal crises, seek guidance from trustworthy, learned, compassionate mentors; ask precise questions; be ready to act on the advice.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Vyāsa enters the palace courtyard with matted locks and a calm, penetrating gaze, carrying a palm-leaf manuscript and a water pot. The king steps down from his throne, hands folded, asking his question with visible humility as courtiers fall silent.","primary_figures":["Vyāsa","King Śrīdhara","court sages/attendants"],"setting":"palace courtyard transitioning into a quiet hermitage-like corner with a small sacred fire altar","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["saffron","ash gray","palm-leaf tan","lapis blue","antique gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Vyāsa with halo and palm-leaf manuscripts arriving at a jeweled palace; the king bows with folded hands; gold leaf on halos, throne, and borders; rich maroon-green drapery; intricate pillar carvings; sacred fire altar with stylized flames.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: gentle palace courtyard with a small garden; Vyāsa in simple ochre garments; the king in blue-green robes steps forward; delicate expressions, fine linework, soft shadows, and a distant hillscape beyond the palace wall.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: iconic Vyāsa and king in profile exchange; bold outlines, warm reds/yellows, green background bands; manuscript and kamaṇḍalu emphasized; stylized palace architecture with ornamental borders.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central vignette of Vyāsa and the king beneath a floral canopy; lotus and creeper borders; peacocks at corners; deep blue field with gold highlights; small Viṣṇu symbol (śaṅkha-cakra) subtly integrated above, hinting at Vaiṣṇava resolution."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["footsteps on stone","soft conch","court hush","single temple bell"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: cāputro'ham = ca + aputraḥ + aham (visarga elision/avagraha); vyāsaṃ ... hitaiṣiṇam: compounds resolved internally.
FAQs
Vyāsa is addressed as a master of all śāstras and a universal benefactor, making him an authoritative guide for resolving dharmic and life concerns.
The speaker’s concern is childlessness—specifically the lack of a son—and he seeks counsel from Vyāsa about the cause and remedy.
The verse implies that personal crises should be addressed through respectful inquiry to a learned, welfare-minded teacher, grounding one’s actions in śāstra and dharma rather than impulse.