Shloka 137
The Origin of the Daṇḍaka Forest and Rāma’s Dharma-Judgment
Vulture vs. Owl
आपृच्छे साधये ब्रह्मन्ननुज्ञातुं त्वमर्हसि । धन्योस्म्यनुगृहीतोस्मि दर्शनेन महामुने
āpṛcche sādhaye brahmannanujñātuṃ tvamarhasi | dhanyosmyanugṛhītosmi darśanena mahāmune
హే సాధు బ్రహ్మన్, నేను వీడ్కోలు తీసుకుంటున్నాను; నన్ను వెళ్లుటకు అనుమతించవలెను. హే మహామునీ, మీ దర్శనంతో నేను ధన్యుడను, అనుగ్రహితుడను.
An unnamed respectful visitor/disciple (speaker not specified in the provided verse)
Concept: Humility and gratitude before a realized sage; seeking permission (anujñā) honors dharmic etiquette and preserves the sanctity of learning.
Application: End spiritual conversations with gratitude; ask leave respectfully from elders/teachers; treat holy encounters as transformative rather than transactional.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A forest hermitage at the edge of a lotus-filled pond: a respectful disciple stands with folded hands, head slightly bowed, requesting leave from a serene mahāmuni seated on kuśa grass. The air feels washed with mantra-silence, as if the very act of darśana has sanctified the departing traveler.","primary_figures":["mahāmuni (tapo-dhana sage)","respectful visitor/disciple"],"setting":"quiet āśrama with thatched hut, sacrificial fire, tulasi pot near the doorway, deer and peacocks at a distance","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["sandalwood beige","forest green","lotus pink","smoke gray","soft gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a seated mahāmuni with radiant halo and gold-leaf aura, right hand raised in anujñā-mudrā, disciple in añjali at his feet; rich vermilion and emerald textiles, gem-studded ornaments on ritual vessels, stylized tulasi in a brass pot, ornate arch framing the hermitage scene with gold leaf embellishment.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate forest hermitage with fine-line foliage, a calm sage on a woven mat, disciple bowing with folded hands; cool greens and muted earth tones, lyrical pond with lotus blooms, distant hills, refined facial features and gentle narrative intimacy.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, warm ochres and greens; sage with elongated eyes and composed expression, disciple in añjali; temple-wall aesthetic with a small homa-kuṇḍa, stylized lotus pond and tulasi pot, flat yet majestic composition.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional border of lotus and creepers; central vignette of a sage granting leave, with abundant lotus motifs and peacocks; deep indigo background with gold detailing, intricate floral borders, sanctified calm atmosphere."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["forest birds","gentle wind in leaves","soft temple bell in distance","crackling sacrificial fire","silence between phrases"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ब्रह्मन् + अनुज्ञातुम् → ब्रह्मन्ननुज्ञातुम्; त्वम् + अर्हसि → त्वमर्हसि; धन्यः + अस्मि → धन्योस्मि; अनुगृहीतः + अस्मि → अनुगृहीतोस्मि
FAQs
It expresses traditional etiquette: respectfully taking leave of a revered sage, requesting permission to depart, and acknowledging the spiritual blessing gained through the sage’s darśana.
Darśana is treated as a vehicle of grace (anugraha). Merely seeing/meeting the saintly person is presented as spiritually fruitful and worthy of gratitude.
Humility and reverence: one should not depart abruptly, but seek consent from elders/teachers and recognize the benefit received from their presence and guidance.