Shloka 24
Yayāti Ensnared by Desire: Gandharva Marriage, Aśvamedha, and the Demand to See the Worlds
किं करोमि महाभाग दासस्ते प्रणतोस्मि च । राजोवाच । अश्वमेधस्य यज्ञस्य संभारं कुरु पुत्रक
kiṃ karomi mahābhāga dāsaste praṇatosmi ca | rājovāca | aśvamedhasya yajñasya saṃbhāraṃ kuru putraka
“హే మహాభాగ, నేను ఏమి చేయుదును? నేను మీ దాసుడను; నమస్కరిస్తున్నాను.” రాజు పలికెను—“పుత్రా, అశ్వమేధ యజ్ఞానికి కావలసిన సంభారమును సిద్ధం చేయి.”
King (rājā)
Concept: Ritual action (yajña) undertaken with discipline and proper preparation is framed as royal dharma.
Application: Before any major undertaking, gather resources ethically, consult qualified guides, and execute with humility rather than ego.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: city
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king, stern yet composed, points toward a ritual ground map as he commands his son to assemble the Aśvamedha requisites. Behind them, scribes unroll palm-leaf lists of offerings, while priests in white discuss auspicious timings near a fire-altar diagram.","primary_figures":["King (rājā)","Prince/son (putraka)","Court priests (ṛtvij)","Scribes/attendants"],"setting":"Palace council chamber opening toward a yajña-planning pavilion with ritual diagrams, offering vessels, and stacked supplies","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["saffron","ivory white","royal blue","copper bronze","smoke gray"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: commanding king with gold leaf crown and heavy ornaments instructing the prince, ritual vessels and śrauta implements arranged symmetrically, rich reds/greens, gold leaf highlighting the crown, throne, and offering pots, stylized fire-altar motifs.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: refined court scene with delicate gestures—king’s directive hand, prince attentive—cool architectural tones, fine textile patterns, subtle dawn light, priests in white with minimalistic yajña implements.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, king and prince in profile with expressive eyes, ritual paraphernalia simplified into iconic forms, warm pigment palette, decorative borders resembling temple murals.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: narrative panel framed by lotus and vine borders, royal figures centered, stylized yajña implements and kalashas, deep blue background with gold accents, devotional undertone suggesting yajña as offering to the divine."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["conch shell (brief)","court drum (soft)","rustle of palm leaves","murmured Vedic accents","distant fire crackle"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रणतोस्मि = प्रणतः + अस्मि; दासस्ते = दासः + ते; राजोवाच = राजा + उवाच (स्वर-सन्धि).
FAQs
The verse explicitly marks “rājovāca” (“the king said”). He instructs his son to prepare the requisites (saṁbhāra) for the Aśvamedha sacrifice.
Saṁbhāra refers to the full set of preparations and materials required for a sacrifice—arrangements, implements, offerings, and logistical readiness.
The speaker expresses humility and service—“I am your servant and I bow to you”—showing deference and readiness to act under guidance before the royal instruction follows.