Shloka 3
Bala: The Rise and Slaying of the Dānava
and the Devas’ Restoration
सूत उवाच । विस्तरेण प्रवक्ष्यामि सृष्टिसंहारकारणम् । श्रुतमात्रेण यस्यापि नरः सर्वज्ञतां व्रजेत्
sūta uvāca | vistareṇa pravakṣyāmi sṛṣṭisaṃhārakāraṇam | śrutamātreṇa yasyāpi naraḥ sarvajñatāṃ vrajet
สูตะกล่าวว่า: “ข้าพเจ้าจักอธิบายโดยพิสดารถึงเหตุแห่งการสร้างสรรพ์และการล่มสลาย (ปรลัย) ซึ่งเพียงได้ยินเท่านั้น มนุษย์ก็อาจบรรลุความรู้รอบ (สรรพญาณ) ได้”
Sūta
Concept: Hearing the causes of creation and dissolution expands cognition toward sarvajñatā—Purāṇic omniscience as comprehensive understanding of tattva, kāraṇa, and cosmic order.
Application: Study origins and endings: reflect on how thoughts arise and dissolve; align actions with what is enduring (dharma/bhakti) rather than transient forms.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: forest
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Sūta sits poised to unfold the grand mechanism of the universe—creation rising like a lotus, dissolution folding back into silence. Behind him, a symbolic panorama shows worlds emerging from subtle darkness and returning again, while the sages listen as if at the edge of time.","primary_figures":["Sūta","Ṛṣis (audience)","Symbolic Viṣṇu presence (śaṅkha-cakra or distant cosmic form)"],"setting":"Forest teaching hall with a yajña fire; a visionary cosmic backdrop depicting sṛṣṭi and pralaya in concentric layers","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["cosmic indigo","flame orange","gold leaf","pearl white","emerald green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Sūta enthroned in a forest pavilion, gold leaf halo, sages seated below, behind them a stylized cosmic tableau—lotus-emergence of worlds and a dark pralaya ocean—ornate gold embellishments, rich reds/greens, gem-studded ritual vessels, traditional iconographic symmetry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: Sūta addressing rishis with delicate brushwork; in the sky a poetic vignette of creation as a lotus blooming from deep blue mist and dissolution as petals closing, cool mountain palette with warm fire accents, refined faces and lyrical landscape.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines—Sūta central, rishis flanking, background bands showing sṛṣṭi-saṁhāra cycles, strong red-yellow-green with deep blue cosmic field, temple mural composition with stylized flames and lotuses.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central Sūta with ornate canopy, lotus borders and intricate floral filigree, deep blue background with gold highlights, circular mandala showing creation and dissolution as alternating lotus bloom and dark ocean, peacocks and cows as auspicious border motifs subtly indicating dharma’s continuity."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["conch shell opening note","steady tanpura drone","yajña fire crackle","temple bells at key cadences","deep silence after ‘sarvajñatāṁ vrajet’"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सृष्टिसंहारकारणम् = सृष्टि-सम्बन्धे संहारस्य कारणम् (समास); यस्यापि = यस्य + अपि (अ + अ → आ)
FAQs
It promises that Sūta will describe the cause behind creation (sṛṣṭi) and dissolution (saṃhāra), and that mere hearing of this teaching is said to confer profound knowledge—described hyperbolically as “omniscience.”
By stating “śrutamātreṇa” (by hearing alone), it elevates attentive listening to sacred narration as a direct spiritual means, a common Purāṇic theme where śravaṇa itself yields transformative insight.
It encourages disciplined listening and study of foundational metaphysical teachings (creation and dissolution), suggesting that sincere engagement with wisdom traditions is itself a path to clarity and expanded understanding.