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Shloka 48

Sukalā’s Account: Ikṣvāku and Sudevā; the Boar’s Resolve and the Dharma of Battle

मरणं सुलभं ज्ञात्वा का प्रतिज्ञा तवेदृशी । त्वां विनाहं न शक्नोमि धर्तुं प्राणान्प्रियेश्वर

maraṇaṃ sulabhaṃ jñātvā kā pratijñā tavedṛśī | tvāṃ vināhaṃ na śaknomi dhartuṃ prāṇānpriyeśvara

मरणं सुलभं ज्ञात्वा का प्रतिज्ञा तवेदृशी । त्वद्विनाहं न शक्नोमि धर्तुं प्राणान् प्रियेश्वर ॥

maraṇamdeath
maraṇam:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootmaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; here as कर्म of ज्ञात्वा (object known)
sulabhameasy to obtain
sulabham:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootsu (उपसर्ग/प्रत्ययार्थ) + labha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of maraṇam
jñātvāhaving known
jñātvā:
Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootjñā (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund); अव्ययभाव (having known)
what? (which?)
:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootkim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; interrogative pronoun
pratijñāpromise, vow
pratijñā:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootpratijñā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
tavayour
tava:
Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootyusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन
īdṛśīsuch, of this kind
īdṛśī:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootīdṛś (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण of pratijñā
tvāmyou
tvām:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootyusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
vināwithout
vinā:
Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvinā (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; उपसर्गसदृश-निपात (preposition/particle) meaning ‘without’
ahamI
aham:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
nanot
na:
Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)
śaknomiI am able
śaknomi:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootśak (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन
dhartumto hold, to sustain
dhartum:
Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
TypeVerb
Rootdhṛ (धातु)
Formतुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive); प्रयोजन/कर्मार्थ (to do/for the purpose of)
prāṇānlife-breaths, life
prāṇān:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootprāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन
priyeśvaraO dear lord
priyeśvara:
Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootpriya (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (priya-īśvara = ‘dear lord’)

Unspecified (context-dependent; a devoted beloved addressing her lord)

Concept: Single-point dependence: the beloved becomes the very prāṇa; vows that cause needless separation are questioned when they destroy life’s support.

Application: Examine vows and austerities: keep them dharmic and compassionate; do not weaponize ‘vows’ to harm relationships or dependents.

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devoted beloved stands at the threshold, hands clasped, eyes brimming, confronting her lord who is bound by a severe vow. The air feels suspended—her scarf caught by a faint wind, his travel staff angled toward the road—while her gaze declares that without him her prāṇa cannot remain.","primary_figures":["beloved/spouse (devoted speaker)","beloved lord (vow-bound)"],"setting":"threshold of a woodland hermitage or village home, with a path leading into trees and a small shrine visible inside","lighting_mood":"moonlit","color_palette":["midnight blue","silver moon-white","lotus pink","warm ochre","deep maroon"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: intense devotional-romantic tableau at a doorway; the beloved with expressive eyes and ornate jewelry, the lord with staff and vow-mark; gold leaf on moon halo, ornaments, and shrine arch; rich reds, greens, and luminous highlights emphasizing prāṇa-like attachment.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: tender moonlit threshold scene, delicate facial expressions, soft gradients; a winding forest path and pale moon; lyrical naturalism capturing viraha and pleading gesture.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, large emotive eyes; the beloved’s pleading posture foregrounded; stylized moon and trees; strong red-yellow-green palette with black contouring.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central couple framed by lotus and creeper borders; symbolic lotuses near the beloved’s feet; deep blue ground with gold accents; peacocks and floral motifs intensify the shringara-viraha mood."}

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["night breeze","distant owl","soft ankle-bells","silence between lines"]}

Sandhi Resolution Notes: tavedṛśī = tava + īdṛśī (vowel sandhi). vināhaṃ = vinā + aham. prāṇānpriyeśvara = prāṇān + priyeśvara (anusvāra/na-sandhi at word boundary).

FAQs

The verse centers on viraha (pain of separation), expressing that life itself cannot be sustained without the beloved lord.

It challenges a harsh vow or resolve by contrasting it with the ease of dying, implying that such a pledge risks causing needless suffering or even death.

It portrays total dependence on the beloved lord—an intense devotional stance where the devotee’s very prāṇa (life-breath) is felt to rest in the presence of the divine beloved.