Shloka 97
The Account of Women
Householder Ethics, Fault, Merit, and Govinda-Nāma as Purification
लोभात्संमानलाभाच्च कन्यका परिवर्तनात् । मुनीनां प्रेयसीं नारीं युवतीं रूपशालिनीम्
lobhātsaṃmānalābhācca kanyakā parivartanāt | munīnāṃ preyasīṃ nārīṃ yuvatīṃ rūpaśālinīm
లోభం వల్ల, గౌరవం పొందడం కోసం మరియు కన్యా వినిమయం ద్వారా, మునులకు ప్రియమైన, యవ్వనవతి మరియు రూపవతి అయిన స్త్రీ లభిస్తుంది.
Unspecified in the provided excerpt (context needed from surrounding verses of Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa 52).
Concept: Greed and status-seeking distort marriage into exchange/commerce; such motives are condemned as adharma, even if the outcome appears desirable (youthful beauty).
Application: Examine motives in major life decisions: avoid commodifying relationships; resist social pressure for prestige; cultivate simplicity and respect for persons over appearances.
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A stark moral tableau: merchants’ scales and coin-pouches hover symbolically over a wedding negotiation, while a young woman stands at the center as a person, not a commodity—her gaze calm but sorrow-tinged. In the background, shadowy figures whisper of honor and profit, contrasted with a faint Viṣṇu shrine whose lamp flickers as greed thickens the air.","primary_figures":["young woman (kanyā)","greedy negotiators/relatives (symbolic)","whispering figures of māna and lābha (allegorical)","small Viṣṇu shrine (background icon)"],"setting":"Domestic courtyard during marriage talks; symbolic overlays of scales, coins, and contract-like palm leaves.","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["tarnished gold","smoky brown","indigo shadow","pale jasmine","crimson"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central dignified kanyā with ornate but restrained jewelry; surrounding figures with exaggerated gestures holding coin-pouches and scrolls; symbolic scales above; a small Viṣṇu icon with gold leaf halo in the corner; rich reds/greens, embossed gold, moral allegory in traditional iconographic framing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate courtyard negotiation scene with delicate expressions; allegorical whispers rendered as faint translucent figures; subtle symbolism of coins and scales; cool blues and warm ochres, refined linework emphasizing psychological tension.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines; central figure of the young woman with large expressive eyes; surrounding greedy figures in dynamic poses; symbolic scales and coins as clear motifs; red-yellow-green palette with deep indigo shadows.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: decorative lotus border framing a moral scene; central figure near a small Viṣṇu shrine; coin and scale motifs woven into floral patterns as cautionary symbols; deep blue background with gold detailing and peacock accents subdued."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["low tanpura","soft ominous drum (mridang)","whisper-like shakers","lamp flame crackle"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: लोभात्संमानलाभाच्च → लोभात् + संमानलाभात् + च; संमानलाभात् is a tatpurusha compound; other words are in simple sandhi.
FAQs
It points to actions driven by greed and the pursuit of social honor or gain, suggesting a critique of desire-based motivations—especially when they involve treating relationships or marriage arrangements as transactions.
The wording foregrounds motives like greed and gain of honor, which are typically presented in Purāṇic literature as problematic drivers that can lead to moral and social harm.
The compound implies an exchange or substitution involving a maiden, indicating a transactional or manipulative social act; understanding it helps frame the verse as commentary on unethical conduct rather than romantic praise.