Shloka 95
Narmadā
Revā) Tīrtha Greatness: The Gandharva Maidens’ Curse Narrative (Acchodā Episode Begins
नाकालेऽहं व्रती कुर्यामतो दारपरिग्रहम् । न क्रिया फलमाप्नोति क्रियाकालं न वेत्ति यः
nākāle'haṃ vratī kuryāmato dāraparigraham | na kriyā phalamāpnoti kriyākālaṃ na vetti yaḥ
நான் விரதம் அனுஷ்டிப்பவன்; காலமல்லாத வேளையில் தாரபரிக்ரஹம் (திருமணம்) செய்யேன். கிரியைக்குரிய காலத்தை அறியாதவனுக்கு கிரியையின் பலன் கிடையாது.
Unspecified (verse presented as a first-person statement within the narrative context of Svarga-khaṇḍa)
Concept: Ritual and life-transitions (like marriage) bear fruit only when performed with correct timing and rule-awareness; ignorance of kāla undermines karma-phala.
Application: Before major commitments or religious observances, learn the proper tithi/vidhi, consult competent guidance, and avoid impulsive ‘out-of-season’ actions; cultivate punctuality and preparedness in daily sādhana.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A stern brahmacārī stands beside a small fire-altar, holding a palm-leaf almanac as if weighing the right tithi. Behind him, a lotus-emblazoned sky suggests Viṣṇu’s cosmic order, while a veiled bridal garland rests untouched, signaling restraint and dharma over impulse.","primary_figures":["brahmacari ascetic","personified Kāla (subtle, symbolic)","unseen Vishnu presence (lotus/śaṅkha-cakra motifs)"],"setting":"Hermitage courtyard with a modest yajña-kuṇḍa, tulasī planter at the edge, and a hanging bell; a quiet threshold between household life and ascetic vow.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["saffron ochre","smoke gray","lotus pink","antique gold","deep indigo"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a composed brahmacārī near a small yajña-kuṇḍa, holding a palm-leaf pañcāṅga; untouched wedding garland and ritual vessels arranged with strict symmetry; gold leaf halo motifs, rich maroon and emerald borders, gem-studded ornaments on symbolic śaṅkha-cakra emblems, South Indian iconographic clarity, ornate arch frame.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a quiet āśrama courtyard with delicate linework; the ascetic studies a pañcāṅga while a garland lies aside; cool indigo shadows, pale lotus-pink sky, refined faces, slender trees and distant hills, lyrical stillness emphasizing dharma and timing.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, warm yellow-red-green pigments; brahmacārī beside a stylized fire-altar, pañcāṅga in hand; decorative lotus and śaṅkha-cakra motifs in the background, temple-wall aesthetic, large expressive eyes, rhythmic floral borders.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central motif of a lotus and śaṅkha-cakra framing a disciplined ascetic; tulasī plant at the margin with intricate floral borders; deep blue ground with gold highlights, symmetrical ritual vessels, peacocks perched quietly, devotional orderliness rather than romance."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","low fire crackle","silence between phrases","distant conch shell"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नाकालेऽहं = न + अकाले + अहम् (’ = अवग्रह after vowel sandhi); फलमाप्नोति = फलम् + आप्नोति.
FAQs
It teaches that ritual actions (kriyā) bear fruit only when performed with knowledge of the proper time (kriyā-kāla); timing is part of dharma and determines efficacy.
It links vow-based discipline (vrata) with discerning “proper time,” stating that even major life acts like taking a wife should be done only when appropriate, not impulsively or out of season.
The broader lesson is discernment: right action includes right timing. Without understanding context and appropriateness, even well-intended actions may fail to produce good outcomes.