Shloka 161
Brahmā’s Puṣkara Sacrifice: Kokāmukha Tīrtha, Varāha’s Aid, and the Arrival of Gāyatrī
का हि नाभिलषेत्कन्या भर्तांरं भक्तिवत्सलम् । नादेयमपि ते किंचित्पितुर्मे धर्मवत्सल
kā hi nābhilaṣetkanyā bhartāṃraṃ bhaktivatsalam | nādeyamapi te kiṃcitpiturme dharmavatsala
భక్తివత్సలుడైన భర్తను ఏ కన్య కోరదు? హే ధర్మనిష్ఠ ప్రియుడా, నా తండ్రి నీకు ఇవ్వనిదేమీ లేదు।
Unspecified (context-dependent within Adhyaya 16; likely a female speaker in dialogue)
Concept: A worthy spouse is characterized by bhakti and dharma; rightful giving (dāna) follows dharmic authority and propriety.
Application: Choose relationships and commitments based on shared devotion and ethical steadiness; honor legitimate guardianship/consent processes rather than impulsive desire.
Primary Rasa: shringara
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A large-eyed maiden speaks with composed resolve, her hands folded in respectful humility, while a suitor listens amid a palace courtyard. The air carries a tension between tender longing and firm adherence to dharma, with attendants watching quietly from behind carved pillars.","primary_figures":["a noble maiden (unnamed)","a suitor/recipient (unnamed)","attendants/companions"],"setting":"royal or celestial court-like courtyard with lotus-carved pillars, silk canopies, and a distant glimpse of a sacrificial hall suggesting dharmic authority","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["lotus pink","sandalwood beige","emerald green","antique gold","indigo"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a large-eyed maiden in rich silk stands with añjali-mudrā, speaking of bhakti and dharma to a poised suitor; ornate palace pillars and lotus motifs; gold leaf halos and borders, gem-studded jewelry, deep reds and greens, traditional South Indian iconographic symmetry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate maiden with refined features and expressive eyes converses with a suitor in a quiet courtyard; lyrical naturalism, soft gradients, cool shadows, detailed textiles; distant garden with flowering vines and a small shrine hinting at dharma.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and stylized eyes; the maiden in graceful stance with folded hands, the suitor attentive; temple-court backdrop with lotus and creeper patterns; natural pigment palette dominated by red, yellow, green, and warm ochres.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional court scene framed by intricate floral borders and lotus motifs; subtle Vishnu-bhakti symbolism (tulasi garland motif in border), deep blues and gold accents; attendants and peacocks in margins, Nathdwara-inspired ornamentation."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft ankle-bells","temple bells (distant)","courtyard birds","gentle silence between lines"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नाभिलषेत्कन्या = न + अभिलषेत् + कन्या; नादेयमपि = न + आदेयम् + अपि; किंचित्पितुर्मे = किंचित् + पितुः + मे. पाठे ‘भर्तांरं’ इति दृश्यते, अर्थतः ‘भर्तारम्’ (द्वितीया) ग्राह्यम्.
FAQs
It praises a husband who is “bhakti-vatsala,” affectionate toward devotion, presenting devotion and moral character as central marital virtues.
By implying that a truly desirable spouse is one who cherishes bhakti, the verse elevates devotion as a defining quality of excellence and trustworthiness.
It underscores generosity guided by dharma: a righteous household is portrayed as one where rightful requests—especially aligned with duty and virtue—are not withheld.