Shloka 29
Kāma and Indra’s Attempt to Shatter Chastity; the ‘Abode of Satya’ and the Ethics of the Virtuous Home
एष हंतुं सहस्राक्ष उद्यतः कामसंयुतः । यथा चेंद्रेण नायाति काम एष तथा कुरु
eṣa haṃtuṃ sahasrākṣa udyataḥ kāmasaṃyutaḥ | yathā ceṃdreṇa nāyāti kāma eṣa tathā kuru
ஓ சகஸ்ராக்ஷா! இவன் காமத்தால் தூண்டப்பட்டு கொல்லத் தயாராக உள்ளான். இந்திரனில் இக்காமவேகம் புகாதபடி நீ செய்.
Unspecified (context-dependent within Adhyaya 56 dialogue)
Concept: Act so that kāma does not seize the mind—even of Indra; vigilance and deliberate action prevent desire from becoming destiny.
Application: Use ‘pre-commitment’ strategies: avoid triggers, seek counsel, redirect attention to duty and prayer; intervene early when you see desire escalating in yourself or others.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A counselor figure raises a hand in warning as Indra stands poised to act, Kāma hovering nearby like a spark near dry grass. The scene captures the decisive moment before wrongdoing: the air is taut, yet a cool current of wisdom seems to flow between speaker and Indra, urging restraint.","primary_figures":["Indra (Sahasrākṣa)","Kāma","Admonishing speaker (unnamed counselor/householder/sage)"],"setting":"Threshold space—between hermitage and sky—suggesting a moral crossroads; a small shrine lamp and protective markings on the ground emphasize dharmic boundaries.","lighting_mood":"lamp-lit threshold with cool calming aura","color_palette":["deep blue","cool white","gold","terracotta","sage green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Indra in ornate regalia with gold-leaf halo stands at a threshold; Kāma nearby with bow and floral arrows; the counselor points in admonition, a small oil lamp and sacred markings in foreground; rich reds/greens, heavy gold leaf, gem-like ornament detail, dramatic moral pause.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate counsel scene with refined gestures, Indra’s face showing hesitation, Kāma rendered lightly as a hovering presence; cool blues and soft whites, delicate architecture/threshold, lyrical restraint rather than spectacle.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, counselor’s raised hand, Indra’s large eyes reflecting inner conflict, Kāma stylized with red accents; temple-lamp motif, natural pigments with strong blue/green and warm gold highlights.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: moral tableau framed by ornate floral borders; Indra and Kāma near a shrine lamp, counselor figure central; deep blues and gold, lotus motifs symbolizing purity, peacocks and vines as decorative elements emphasizing the choice of restraint."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["single bell strike","conch shell (soft)","steady tanpura","quiet wind","brief pause after the injunction"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चेंद्रेण = च + इन्द्रेण; नायाति = न + आयाति
FAQs
It warns that actions—especially violent or impulsive ones—can be fueled by kāma (desire), and urges Indra to act so that desire does not overpower judgment.
Sahasrākṣa (“thousand-eyed”) is a traditional epithet of Indra, emphasizing his divine status and vigilance—ironically underscoring that even the vigilant must guard against desire.
The verse highlights self-mastery: one should prevent desire from becoming the motive force behind decisions, especially when those decisions involve harm or conflict.