Shloka 65
The Birth of Tāraka and the Prelude to the Deva–Asura War
Topic-based Title
ब्रह्मागत्याह दैत्येंद्रं वरं वरय सुव्रत । स वव्रे सर्वभूतेभ्यो न मे मृत्युर्भवेदिति
brahmāgatyāha daityeṃdraṃ varaṃ varaya suvrata | sa vavre sarvabhūtebhyo na me mṛtyurbhavediti
అప్పుడు బ్రహ్మ వచ్చి దైత్యేంద్రునితో అన్నాడు—“హే సువ్రతా, వరం కోరుకో.” అతడు కోరాడు—“ఏ జీవి చేతనూ నాకు మరణం కలగకూడదు.”
Narrator (contextual); direct speech by Brahmā, then the Daitya-king
Concept: Boons obtained through tapas can destabilize the world when sought for invulnerability; cosmic law still finds a dharmic resolution.
Application: Be careful what you ask for: desires for absolute security often create new fears and ethical blind spots; seek boons aligned with virtue and service.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: mountain
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Brahmā descends in a lotus-borne radiance above the mountain fires, four faces serene yet grave, as the emaciated Daitya-king rises with folded hands. The moment freezes between blessing and peril: the boon is spoken, and the air itself seems to tighten around the word ‘death.’","primary_figures":["Brahmā","Daitya-king (tapasvin)","attendant gandharvas (subtle)"],"setting":"mountain ledge with extinguishing/steady fires, ascetic seat, sky opening with lotus motifs","lighting_mood":"divine radiance cutting through austere landscape","color_palette":["lotus pink","saffron gold","celestial white","deep sky blue","ash gray"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Brahmā on a lotus throne with heavy gold leaf halo and embossed ornaments, four faces clearly delineated, the gaunt Daitya-king below in añjali, flames and ritual items rendered with jewel tones; ornate arch frame, rich reds/greens, gold leaf emphasizing the boon moment.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate Brahmā descending amid soft clouds, lotus petals drifting, the ascetic-king thin and reverent, subtle tension in posture; cool blues and pinks with fine facial detailing and a quiet, fateful atmosphere.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: iconic Brahmā with bold outlines and large eyes, lotus seat and radiant aura, the Daitya below with stark ascetic body lines; strong red/yellow/green pigments, symmetrical composition emphasizing divine authority.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central Brahmā-lotus motif above, below a narrative panel of the boon request, surrounded by lotus borders and gold filigree; deep blue ground, intricate floral patterns, emphasis on sacred geometry and auspicious motifs despite the ominous boon."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["conch shell (soft)","temple bells","humming silence","fire crackle fading as Brahmā appears"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: brahmāgatyāha = brahmā + āgatya + āha; daityeṃdram = daitya-indram (ṃ + i → ṃi with nasalization); mṛtyurbhavet = mṛtyuḥ + bhavet (visarga sandhi); bhavediti = bhavet + iti (t/d sandhi in recitation).
FAQs
Brahmā offers a boon, addressing the “Daityendra,” the king or chief among the Daityas (asuras).
The Daitya-king asks that death should not occur to him “from all beings” (sarvabhūtebhyaḥ), i.e., he seeks protection from being killed by any living being.
It highlights the recurring Purāṇic theme that power sought through boons often aims to bypass mortality, yet such requests typically remain limited by cosmic order (dharma) and the precise wording of the boon.