Shloka 24
The Marriage of Nahuṣa and Aśokasundarī at Vasiṣṭha’s Hermitage
within the Gurutīrtha Glorification
पुत्रं प्रति न कर्तव्यं दुःखं राजंस्त्वया कदा । तं निहत्य सुवीर्येण दानवं चैष्यते सुतः
putraṃ prati na kartavyaṃ duḥkhaṃ rājaṃstvayā kadā | taṃ nihatya suvīryeṇa dānavaṃ caiṣyate sutaḥ
ข้าแต่พระราชา พระองค์ไม่พึงก่อทุกข์แก่พระโอรสเลยสักครา ครั้นพระโอรสปราบทานวะนั้นด้วยวีรบารมีแล้ว ก็จักเสด็จกลับมา
Unspecified (context required to identify the dialogue pair precisely within Adhyaya 116)
Concept: Do not burden the worthy with needless grief; trust in righteous effort and the protective arc of destiny when aligned with dharma.
Application: Offer encouragement rather than anxiety to family members facing challenges; avoid words/actions that weaken courage.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A counselor addresses the king with steady gaze, raising a hand in blessing-like reassurance: the prince will return after felling the dānava. In the background, a visionary tableau shows the young hero mid-battle, spear and chakra-like radiance cutting through shadowy demonic forms.","primary_figures":["the king","royal counselor/sage (unspecified speaker)","the prince (as a visionary inset)","dānava (antagonist)"],"setting":"royal court with an implied battlefield vision behind, banners and chariots suggested in miniature","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["vermillion","steel gray","sunlit gold","indigo","ivory"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: court scene with the counselor blessing the king; inset battle vignette where the prince strikes a dānava; gold leaf highlights on weapons and halos, rich reds/greens, ornate pillars, gem-like detailing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: refined court interior opening into a distant battlefield; the prince in dynamic pose, the dānava rendered as dark swirling form; cool shadows, delicate brushwork, lyrical composition.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, heroic prince with exaggerated expressive eyes; dānava in stylized dark tones; warm red-yellow-green pigments, temple mural symmetry.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: narrative panel framed by lotus creepers; symbolic shankha-chakra motifs above the prince to suggest divine support; deep blue ground with gold linework, intricate borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["conch shell","war drums (mridanga-like)","court murmurs fading into silence","wind over banners"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: राजंस्त्वया = राजन् + त्वया; चैष्यते = च + एष्यते. श्लोके ‘पुत्रं प्रति ... दुःखं’ इत्यत्र ‘पुत्रं प्रति’ सम्बन्धे ‘दुःखं’ कर्मरूपेण (दुःखं कर्तुं) बोध्यते।
FAQs
It emphasizes that a king must not inflict needless suffering on his own child and should act with restraint and responsibility in matters involving family duty.
The verse refers to a Dānava (a demon/asura-class being). The specific identity is not given in this single śloka and must be confirmed from the surrounding verses of Adhyaya 116.
Heroism is presented as purposeful action—slaying the harmful adversary—after which the son’s safe return is assured, aligning valor with protective duty rather than impulsive violence.